Designer responds to Cannes saree controversy
Designer Sandeep Khosla has publicly responded to the controversy surrounding Urvashi Rautela's recent Cannes appearance, calling her saree an "exact copy" of a garment his label created for supermodel Gigi Hadid. In an interview with NDTV on August 29, Khosla addressed the resemblance that had drawn comparisons and criticism on social media.
Khosla said he had recently come across social media posts discussing the outfit's similarity to the ensemble Gigi Hadid wore in March 2023 at the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai. "Just the other day I was seeing, there's a lady called Urvashi Rautela, I think, who wore a copy of ours, of Gigi Hadid... and there was an influencer doing a whole post on how you can get an original Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla outfit made where Urvashi got it made," he said.
The designer expressed frustration that the reproduction lacked any distinct creative input, questioning the role of influencers in promoting such copies. "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," Khosla said.
Addressing the broader issue of plagiarism in fashion, the designer suggested that those who choose to replicate existing designs should at least add something new. "If you want to plagiarise and you want to copy, make a better version of what we are doing," he added.
The original and the copy
The original ensemble worn by Gigi Hadid was created by the Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla label and featured intricate hand embroidery, a broad embellished border, and an ornate gold blouse. According to reports, the hand-embroidered creation took about a year to craft and became one of the most discussed fashion moments from the NMACC opening.
Urvashi Rautela's Cannes outfit, worn at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, was an ivory saree with chikankari-style detailing paired with a heavy, gold-jewelled blouse. It was created by Mihir Design Studio in Pune. The striking similarities led to accusations of imitation online, with some social media users dubbing the look a "gandi copy" of Hadid's attire, according to reports.
Fashion industry debate
Khosla's critique has underscored a broader debate within the fashion industry regarding intellectual property, fast-fashion knockoffs, and the authenticity of red carpet looks. His comments suggest that true craftsmanship cannot be easily duplicated and that designers should strive for originality even when drawing inspiration from existing work.
The designer's remarks have been widely reported, with the controversy highlighting the tension between cultural referencing and deliberate copying in high fashion.