The controversy surrounding Lenskart’s workplace grooming policies took a dramatic turn in Mumbai when activists, led by a Muslim Bharatiya Janata Party leader, forced their way into one of the retailer's showrooms. The protest follows allegations that the eyewear giant had effectively banned Hindu religious symbols, such as bindis and tilaks, while simultaneously permitting the hijab— a claim that has sparked fierce debate over corporate secularism in India.
Nazia Elahi, a leader within the BJP’s Minority Morcha, headed the group as they confronted staff and chanted "Jai Shri Ram" inside the store. In a tense exchange caught on camera, Elahi questioned the showroom’s floor manager, Mohsin Khan, over the alleged restrictions. "Is that why tilak was stopped? Because you are Mohsin Khan?" she was heard asking, before accusing the company of religious bias.
During the demonstration, the activists began applying tilaks to the foreheads of employees and tying sacred kalawa threads around their wrists. While the staff appeared visibly uncomfortable, the manager himself reportedly called Hindu employees forward to receive the symbols, asserting there should be "no shame" in displaying one’s religious identity. The atmosphere grew more heated after an employee alleged that training sessions specifically prohibited the tilak and even prevented married female staff from wearing the mangalsutra.
The backlash stems from a leaked internal document that appeared to show a dress code favouring certain religious attires over others. As the outcry intensified online, Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal moved to douse the flames, clarifying that the viral document was an "inaccurate" and outdated training note that did not reflect the company’s actual HR policies. He insisted that any references to restricting the bindi or tilak had since been removed.
In a bid to restore its image, the company has now released an updated in-store style guide. The new directive explicitly states that all symbols of faith and culture — ranging from turbans and hijabs to bindis and tilaks — are fully permitted across its outlets. Despite the clarification, the activists have demanded a thorough investigation, insisting the showroom remain closed until they are satisfied that the policy has been permanently rectified.
Also read: Lenskart apologises after grooming policy controversy
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