Lenskart, one of India’s largest eyewear retailers, has come under significant public scrutiny after a purported internal employee style guide went viral on social media, with many users debating whether the company’s grooming rules treated different faith practices fairly.
The controversy began after writer Shefali Vaidya shared images on X (formerly Twitter) that she said were from Lenskart’s internal employee style guide. The company was accused by critics of restricting traditional Hindu religious symbols, specifically the bindi, sindoor, and kalava, while permitting the wearing of a hijab.
The document, which surfaced on Scribd, indicated that hijabs and turbans were allowed under certain conditions, while religious tikka, tilak, and bindi were listed as restricted. The images spread rapidly, with users accusing Lenskart of attempting to erase visible aspects of Hindu identity under the guise of professionalism.
CEO Peyush Bansal, who is also a Shark Tank India judge, responded publicly on X, stating the viral document does not reflect the company’s current policies.
Hi, all. I’ve been seeing an inaccurate policy document going viral about Lenskart.
I want to speak directly that this document does not reflect our present guidelines.
Our policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak, and we…
— Peyush Bansal (@peyushbansal) April 15, 2026
“I’ve been seeing an inaccurate policy document going viral about Lenskart. I want to speak directly that this document does not reflect our present guidelines,” Bansal wrote. “Our policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak, and we continue to review our guidelines regularly.”
Bansal further stated that the grooming policy had evolved over the years and that outdated versions do not reflect the company’s current stance, and added an apology for the confusion caused.
The authenticity of the document has not been independently verified. It remained unclear whether the guidelines in question represented a newly implemented policy, an internal draft, or a misinterpretation of existing rules.
Industry experts noted that while dress codes are a standard part of corporate environments, they must be implemented with cultural sensitivity and fairness. The episode reignites a broader conversation in Indian corporate circles around how workplace dress codes intersect with religious identity, and how companies communicate, update, and enforce such policies internally.
