Actor Urvashi Rautela has once again become a major talking point at the Cannes Film Festival 2026 after her latest red carpet appearance drew comparisons with Gigi Hadid’s much-discussed golden saree-inspired look from the 2023 NMACC launch event.
Social media platforms were flooded with memes, side-by-side comparisons and reactions shortly after Urvashi shared pictures of her Cannes outfit online. Several users claimed the actor’s outfit looked similar to the custom golden ensemble worn by Gigi Hadid during the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in 2023.
Social media reacts to fashion similarities
Urvashi’s Cannes appearance featured a heavily embellished golden outfit paired with dramatic styling and statement jewellery. Soon after photographs from the red carpet surfaced online, users began drawing comparisons to Gigi Hadid’s Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla-designed saree-inspired golden look from the NMACC gala.
GiGI Hadid's look in NMACC gala X_lislopees1
Instagram fashion watchdog Diet Sabya stirred controversy with a sharp post calling out what it described as a “gandi copy,” comparing the look to a memorable chikankari couture moment worn by Gigi Hadid.
“I say URVA, you say … sheeeee err … GIGI??? Only the First Lady of the Universe/world/dubai/billion/1300 cr could have performed this level of fashion necromancy to bring back Gandi Copy (RIP). Unless there has been a case of mass amnesia, and I was not invited, I don’t think anyone has forgotten Gigi’s Abu Jani chikankari couture sari!! You need mega GUTS to pull this off 😂. I won’t live. Generating enough EMVs to power an entire influ-town!”
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The outfit quickly sparked a flood of reactions online. Designer Sandeep Khosla also joined the conversation, commenting: “Very very very very very GANDI dietji!!!”
Several users added their own takes, mixing humour with criticism:
“Very raavan ki dress from Mangi Laal gotey wala fancy dress shop.”
“How she keeps getting invited year by year?”
“Did she think we wouldn’t notice”
“Is that thermocol ka gamla”
“Just let her dabidi dibidi yar.”
At the same time, some users pushed back against the criticism, offering a more supportive perspective:
“Urvashi is not wearing the Abu Jani saree. She is wearing a different designer outfit, and the saree she carried so beautifully may have been inspired by it, but both sarees are completely different. Kindly check carefully, @dietsabya. And honestly, she carried the saree more beautifully than Alia Bhatt. Stop being biased, dude. Shame on you. @dietsabya and there is no comparison between Gigi nd Urvashi hope you understand @dietsabya.”
Instagram/Diet Sabya
Despite the defence, many remained unconvinced, arguing that the resemblance between the two looks was hard to ignore, fuelling yet another debate on originality versus inspiration in fashion.
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This is not the first time Urvashi’s fashion choices at Cannes have gone viral online. Over the years, the actor has frequently grabbed attention for dramatic gowns, elaborate accessories and unconventional styling decisions at international events.
Cannes fashion moments continue trending
The Cannes Film Festival has once again become a major centre for celebrity fashion conversations this year, with several Indian actors and influencers making appearances on the red carpet. From couture gowns to experimental beauty looks, social media has actively discussed and dissected nearly every major celebrity appearance from the festival.
Urvashi herself has remained highly active online during the festival, sharing multiple pictures and videos from Cannes-related events and appearances. Her looks often generate significant engagement online, with fans and critics reacting strongly to her styling choices.
Meanwhile, Gigi Hadid’s NMACC look from 2023 remains one of the most widely discussed celebrity fashion moments connected to Indian couture on a global stage. Designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, the outfit blended traditional saree-inspired draping with modern red carpet styling and received international attention at the time.
The latest comparisons have now added another viral fashion discussion to this year’s Cannes season, with users continuing to debate whether the resemblance was intentional inspiration or simply a coincidence in styling trends.
