Updated: September 5, 2026
Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes 2026 fashion look has returned to the spotlight after designer Sandeep Khosla publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her ivory-and-gold saree.
The controversy began when social media users noticed striking similarities between Urvashi’s Cannes outfit and the iconic saree worn by supermodel Gigi Hadid at the 2023 opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai.
Months after the Cannes appearance, Sandeep Khosla has now spoken about the look, calling it a copy and arguing that anyone taking inspiration from an existing design should bring their own creative interpretation.
Urvashi Rautela vs Gigi Hadid: What Is the Saree Controversy?
The controversy revolves around two visually similar ivory-and-gold saree looks.
Gigi Hadid wore an elaborate ivory chikankari saree with a heavy golden border and a sculpted gold blouse at the NMACC opening in April 2023. The outfit was designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.
Three years later, Urvashi Rautela appeared at Cannes 2026 in a look featuring a similar ivory saree, a prominent golden border and an ornate gold blouse.
The similarities were immediately noticed online, with fashion commentators and social-media users comparing the two appearances. (India Today)
What Did Gigi Hadid Wear at NMACC in 2023?
Gigi Hadid’s 2023 NMACC appearance became one of the most widely discussed international celebrity fashion moments in India.
She wore an ivory chikankari saree from the Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla label. The traditional drape was paired with a heavily detailed gold blouse and jewellery that gave the outfit a regal appearance.
The design was particularly notable because of its intricate craftsmanship.
Gigi herself had previously praised the workmanship behind the saree, noting that it took about a year to create and involved artisans specialising in different forms of stitching. (India Today)
What Did Urvashi Rautela Wear at Cannes 2026?
Urvashi Rautela wore an ivory-and-gold saree-inspired outfit during her Cannes 2026 appearance.
The ensemble featured:
- An ivory saree
- A broad golden border
- An elaborate gold blouse
- Traditional-style jewellery
- A pleated pallu
- A white flower-pot-like accessory
The combination immediately reminded social-media users of Gigi Hadid’s 2023 NMACC appearance.
The comparison became particularly strong because of the overall silhouette, colour palette, blouse design and styling. (The Times of India)
Why Did People Say Urvashi Rautela Copied Gigi Hadid?
The controversy was not simply about wearing a similar colour.
Fashion users pointed to several similarities between the two outfits.
| Fashion Element | Gigi Hadid | Urvashi Rautela |
|---|---|---|
| Base colour | Ivory | Ivory |
| Saree style | Traditional-inspired drape | Similar drape |
| Border | Heavy gold | Heavy gold |
| Blouse | Sculpted gold blouse | Ornate gold blouse |
| Overall aesthetic | Regal Indian couture | Similar regal aesthetic |
| Occasion | NMACC 2023 | Cannes 2026 |
Because several elements appeared together, the comparison quickly went viral.
Social-media fashion commentary accounts also posted side-by-side comparisons, intensifying the debate around whether Urvashi’s look was simply inspired by Gigi’s outfit or was too close to the original.
What Did Sandeep Khosla Say About Urvashi Rautela’s Look?
This is where the controversy received a fresh boost in August 2026.
Designer Sandeep Khosla, whose original design was worn by Gigi Hadid, addressed the issue in an interview with NDTV.
Khosla said that he had seen discussions online about Urvashi’s Cannes outfit and described it as a copy of the Gigi Hadid look.
He also made a broader point about fashion imitation, saying that if someone chooses to copy or take inspiration from an existing design, they should create a better or more individual version rather than simply reproducing it. (NDTV)
His comments brought the old Cannes controversy back into the news several months after Urvashi’s appearance.
Sandeep Khosla’s “Make A Better Version” Comment
Khosla’s most widely reported comment was essentially a challenge to people who reproduce existing designs: make a better version rather than simply copying the original.
The statement quickly became the headline of coverage because it directly addressed the ongoing debate around Urvashi’s Cannes look.
It also shifted the conversation from social-media trolling to a designer’s perspective on originality and plagiarism in fashion. (NDTV)
Was Urvashi Rautela’s Saree an Exact Copy?
This is where some caution is necessary.
The visual similarities between the two outfits are clear enough to have generated widespread comparisons. However, calling something a legally established case of plagiarism would require evidence beyond visual similarity.
The current controversy is primarily a fashion and originality debate.
Sandeep Khosla has described Urvashi’s outfit as a copy, while online audiences have debated whether it should be considered imitation, inspiration or a replica.
There has been no court ruling establishing a copyright violation in relation to the Cannes outfit.
Therefore, it is more accurate to describe it as a copy controversy rather than a legally proven plagiarism case.
Gigi Hadid’s 2023 Saree vs Urvashi Rautela’s 2026 Saree
The comparison became popular because both outfits combine traditional Indian saree styling with high-fashion elements.
Gigi’s look was created by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla and became a major talking point during the NMACC opening.
Urvashi’s Cannes outfit appeared several years later with a similar visual language.
The most noticeable similarities were the ivory base, gold detailing, ornate blouse and overall styling.
At the same time, the two looks were worn in completely different settings. Gigi wore hers for a major cultural event in Mumbai, while Urvashi wore hers on the Cannes red carpet.
Social Media Reaction to Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes Look
The internet reaction was divided.
Some users criticised the similarity and accused Urvashi of copying Gigi Hadid’s look.
Others argued that traditional Indian fashion has always involved designers referencing earlier silhouettes, fabrics and cultural aesthetics.
The debate became particularly intense because Gigi’s original outfit was itself a highly recognisable Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla creation.
Fashion watchdogs and social-media commentators therefore treated the Cannes appearance as a comparison between an original designer creation and a later recreation.
What Is the “Gandi Copy” Controversy?
The phrase “gandi copy” became associated with the online discussion surrounding Urvashi’s Cannes outfit.
It was used by social-media users while criticising the resemblance between her outfit and Gigi Hadid’s earlier saree.
The phrase subsequently appeared in media coverage of Sandeep Khosla’s comments.
Importantly, it should not be confused with a formal statement that Urvashi had committed a legally established act of plagiarism.
The controversy remains centred on the appearance and originality of the design.
Why Is the Urvashi Rautela-Gigi Hadid Controversy Trending Again?
The original controversy happened during Cannes 2026 in May.
However, the story received a second wave of attention in late August after Sandeep Khosla publicly commented on the resemblance.
That created a new search cycle around:
- Urvashi Rautela Cannes saree
- Gigi Hadid saree
- Urvashi Rautela copy controversy
- Sandeep Khosla Urvashi Rautela
- Gigi Hadid NMACC saree
- Urvashi Rautela fashion controversy
- Cannes 2026 fashion controversy
This second news cycle is why the story is once again attracting attention.
Who Designed Gigi Hadid’s Saree?
Gigi Hadid’s famous NMACC saree was designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.
The ivory chikankari saree featured extensive craftsmanship and gold detailing.
The design became particularly memorable because Gigi paired traditional Indian clothing with an international-model aesthetic.
It remains one of the most recognisable celebrity saree looks associated with the NMACC opening.
Did Urvashi Rautela Wear the Same Saree?
No.
The controversy is based on the similarity between the two outfits, not a claim that Gigi’s original physical saree was taken and worn by Urvashi.
Reports describe Urvashi’s Cannes outfit as a copy or replica-inspired version of Gigi’s look.
Sandeep Khosla himself referred to it as a copy when discussing the controversy. (Bollywood Hungama)
Is This the First Time Bollywood Fashion Has Faced a Copy Controversy?
No.
Fashion imitation and inspiration have been debated in Bollywood and international celebrity fashion for years.
The boundary between inspiration, recreation, homage and copying can be difficult to define, particularly when popular silhouettes or styling concepts are recreated.
The Urvashi-Gigi controversy became particularly visible because the original outfit was already famous and was created by a high-profile Indian designer.
Urvashi Rautela Cannes 2026 Fashion Controversy Explained
The controversy can be summarised in four points:
1. Gigi Hadid wore the original Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla saree in 2023.
2. Urvashi Rautela appeared in a highly similar ivory-and-gold look at Cannes 2026.
3. Social media users immediately compared the two outfits.
4. Sandeep Khosla later criticised the copying of designs and said people should create a better version when taking inspiration. (NDTV)
FAQs
Did Urvashi Rautela copy Gigi Hadid’s saree?
Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes 2026 saree was widely compared with Gigi Hadid’s 2023 NMACC outfit. Designer Sandeep Khosla later described Urvashi’s look as a copy. However, there has been no court finding establishing a legal plagiarism violation.
What did Sandeep Khosla say about Urvashi Rautela?
Sandeep Khosla criticised the reproduction of his design and said that people who copy should create a better version rather than simply replicating an existing design. (NDTV)
Who designed Gigi Hadid’s famous NMACC saree?
Gigi Hadid’s 2023 NMACC saree was designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.
When did Gigi Hadid wear the saree?
Gigi Hadid wore the ivory-and-gold saree at the NMACC opening event in Mumbai in 2023.
When did Urvashi Rautela wear the similar saree?
Urvashi Rautela wore the similar ivory-and-gold look during her Cannes 2026 appearance.
Why did Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes look go viral?
The outfit went viral because users noticed its resemblance to Gigi Hadid’s famous 2023 NMACC saree.
Is Urvashi Rautela’s outfit legally proven to be plagiarism?
No. The controversy is about alleged copying and design similarity. There has been no court ruling establishing a copyright violation.
What is the Gigi Hadid saree controversy?
It is a fashion controversy surrounding the similarity between Gigi Hadid’s 2023 Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla saree and Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes 2026 outfit.
Did Gigi Hadid comment on Urvashi Rautela’s look?
There is no verified public statement from Gigi Hadid about the controversy in the sources reviewed for this article.
Final Verdict
The Urvashi Rautela vs Gigi Hadid saree controversy has become one of the more talked-about celebrity fashion debates of 2026.
What began with social-media comparisons at Cannes received renewed attention after designer Sandeep Khosla addressed the resemblance and criticised the practice of reproducing designs without adding an original interpretation.
The controversy also highlights a larger question in celebrity fashion: where does inspiration end and copying begin?
For now, the facts are straightforward. Gigi Hadid wore the original Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla creation in 2023. Urvashi Rautela later appeared in a highly similar ivory-and-gold look at Cannes 2026. Social media compared the two, and Sandeep Khosla subsequently called the Cannes outfit a copy.
Whether audiences see it as inspiration, imitation or an outright replica remains a matter of fashion opinion rather than a legally established finding.
