The line between homage and imitation in luxury fashion is famously thin, but veteran Indian fashion designer Sandeep Khosla didn’t mince words when addressing actor Urvashi Rautela ’s ‘copied’ red carpet ensemble. Also read | Gigi Hadid thanks Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla for NMACC Chikankari saree, gives shout-out to women artisans who crafted it
When asked about the rising prevalence of low-cost replicas in Indian luxury fashion, Sandeep addressed the incident directly during the NDTV interview: “If you want to plagiarise and you want to copy, make a better version of what we are doing. Beyond the replica itself, he expressed disappointment over how such knockoffs were normalised on social media: “Firstly, Urvashi is wearing an exact copy of our garment without a thought. Either she has no exposure, or she has too much exposure. And then, the person (influencer) is actually encouraging the copies to happen, which I find really… there has to be at least some difference, or do some… it should be a take of an artist themselves to do something else. Also, that’s called very easy fashion. Sandeep’s critique underscored a broader debate within the fashion industry regarding intellectual property, fast-fashion knockoffs, and red carpet authenticity. his statement served as a reminder that true craftsmanship cannot be easily duplicated While celebrities often attempt to recreate viral sartorial moments.
The fashion drama unfolded at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Urvashi stepped out in an ivory chikankari-style saree paired with an intricate, heavy, gold-jewelled blouse. Fashion enthusiasts immediately recognised the design as a near-identical replica of the bespoke Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creation Gigi Hadid wore in March 2023 during the grand opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai. Gigi’s hand-embroidered original took about a year to craft, whereas Urvashi’s 2026 look—created by a different label (Mihir Designer Studio) — drew sharp criticism online and was dubbed a ‘gandi copy’ by fashion watchdogs .
