Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela found herself at the center of a major online controversy after she appeared as a judge at the recent Miss Universe India pageant. Her choice of attire for the high-profile event drew sharp criticism from several quarters, as the special gown she wore featured elements inspired by the Indian national flag, including the tricolor scheme and a design resembling the Ashoka Chakra.
Following intense backlash and accusations of violating the Indian Flag Code, Urvashi Rautela finally broke her silence to address the mounting concerns. She firmly maintained that wearing the outfit was entirely her unique way of paying respect and tribute to her motherland on a global platform.
Explaining the deep emotions behind her sartorial choice, Urvashi shared that she views her country not just as a nationality, but as a core component of her personal identity. She wanted to wear something that would convey not only her roots but also what India truly means to her, which ultimately led to the creation of this customized gown.
The elaborate gown was crafted by Belarusian designer Daria Chermashentseva and required nearly three months of meticulous work to complete. Elaborating on the artistic effort, Urvashi noted that the texture, color placement, ornamentation, and detailing were all approached from a purely fashion-forward perspective, transforming patriotism into an artistic expression rather than just slapping three colors onto a fabric.
While many admirers praised the look as a bold display of national pride, a significant number of critics expressed serious concern. Observers pointed out that incorporating the tricolor and national symbols into lower-body attire and allowing parts of it to brush against the ground violates the established guidelines of the Indian Flag Code.
Defending herself against the criticism, Urvashi pointed out that there are several distinct differences between the national flag and her designer gown. Most importantly, she emphasized that the dress is not an exact replica of the national flag, but rather a high-fashion piece inspired by certain elements of the tricolor.
Elaborating further, she described the outfit as a tribute framed in theatrical and high-fashion style, which takes inspiration from the three colors and the central emblem. She highlighted that the color shades were intentionally altered, the traditional horizontal stripes were turned vertical, and the wheel emblem was artistically redesigned to look like an ornament.
Concluding her clarification, Urvashi explained that the entire dress is heavily embellished with sequins and fringes so that under stage lights, it reads clearly as a fashion garment rather than the national flag. She specifically noted that the orange used is not the authentic saffron, the green belongs to a different shade, and even the emblem differs when viewed according to official guidelines.
