Black hijab and turban allowed but no bindi, chooda or tilak? Lenskart office policy making netizens furious - Peyush Bansal responds

A new controversy involving Lenskart has caught attention across social media, with many people discussing workplace rules and religious expression. The issue started with a document that quickly went viral and raised questions about what the company's employees are allowed to wear. As reactions grew stronger, the company’s founder responded, but the debate has continued with users asking for more clarity.

Here is a simple explanation of the situation.

What led to the controversy

The discussion began after a document, said to be Lenskart’s staff grooming and uniform guide, was widely shared online.

As per what was being circulated, employees were allowed to wear a black hijab during their shift. It also mentioned that black turbans were permitted.

However, the same document reportedly placed restrictions on other religious symbols. It stated, “Religious tikka/tilakand Bindi/Sticker is not allowed.” Further, in the document, there is also a rule for chooda (chura) or wedding bangles worn by North Indian Hindu women. The document specifies that the chura can be only worn for three months - it reads, "Wedding bangles (Chura) is allowed for 3 months from the date of the wedding. It must be approved by the AOM and PE Lead to be informed."

This difference in what was allowed and restricted led to questions and criticism from users.

Why the issue got attention

The issue quickly gained attention due to its connection to religious identity.

Many users highlighted the common use of bindi and tilak in daily life. As a result, the document's restriction raised concerns about the policy's balance.

The issue soon became a wider discussion on social media about fairness in workplace guidelines.

Peyush Bansal responds

As the conversation picked up, Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal addressed the issue on X.

“Hi, all. I’ve been seeing an inaccurate policy document going viral about Lenskart,” he said.

He clarified that the shared document does not reflect the company's current policy and described it as outdated.

“Our policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak, and we continue to review our guidelines regularly,” Bansal said.

He also acknowledged the confusion caused by the situation. “Our grooming policy has evolved over the years and outdated versions do not represent who we are today. We apologize for the confusion and concern this situation has caused,” he added.

Users continue to raise questions

Even after this clarification, some internet users were not fully convinced.

Many claimed that the document being shared is recent and asked the company to release its current policy.

One user wrote, “Okay, then you should make public a copy of your company's current policy. Because what we have seen is completely opposite to what you are saying.”

Another said, “It's February month policy dude....to whom are you making a fool? Public or yourself?”

User Shefali Vaidya also questioned the explanation, saying, “Sorry, this explanation makes NO sense. Please point out why is the document I have shared ‘inaccurate’. It is from February 2026. And if it does not reflect your ‘current guidelines’ as you say, please share the current guidelines. Also, even if it is an old document as you say, why was religious asymmetry okay then?”

The situation has also highlighted how quickly internal company documents, whether current or outdated, can shape public perception once they surface online. As the debate continues, the incident has once again brought attention to how companies navigate workplace rules around identity and personal expression.
Disclaimer: This article is based on screenshots of a document being circulated online and attributed to Lenskart’s grooming policy, along with the company’s official response on the matter.Note to readers: This is a developing story. Updates will be added as and when more information becomes available.