Aishwarya Rai: Fact Check: Did Mindy Kaling copy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes 2022 for her Met Gala appearance? Here’s the truth! |

The first Monday of May saw who’s who of the world sashying down the red, err the off-white and green carpet, at the Met Gala which was celebrating the theme ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’. All roads leading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York saw a bold show of fashion, art and all things amusing.

Actor and producer Mindy Kaling graced this year’s Met Gala in a stunning sculpted nude couture gown by Gaurav Gupta.The ensemble featured a structured cape flowing from her shoulders to a glorious train. Eagle eyed netizens, or rather user who simply love to jump to conlcusions, were quick to call it a ‘copy’. Reference being, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan‘s similar sculpted gown from Cannes 2022.
Did Mindy really copy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?
This is a classic case of ‘limited knowledge’. While Aishwarya donned a sculpted gown with the theme of ‘The Birth of Venus’, Mindy’s ensemble was described as a ‘Melting Flower of Time’.
“Mindy radiates grace, making her the ideal muse for this design. Just as a flower blooms only once before withering away, this gown embodies the transient yet exquisite essence of style. It’s almost like the gown Mindy is wearing melts away in time, evoking a surreal journey through loops of infinity, as represented by our brand logo” – Gaurav had shared on his social media handle. On the other hand, Aishwarya paid an ode to Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty during her 2022 outing, which was described by the designer as, “Inspired by the birth of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, rising from the scalloped shell; she transitions from the infinite, pure as a pearl.”
Beyond the theme and thought put into both the gowns, the exquisite attires also featured different colours, sculptures and vibe. While whether Mindy and Gaurav Gupta did justice to the look and theme with this coutoure is a story for another day. But for now, let’s affirm that Mindy did not copy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but rather donned a gown from the same designer.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s 2022 Cannes look
In 2022, Aishwarya donned a custom ensemble by Gaurav Gupta, which reportedly required 3500 man-hours to craft. Adorned with thousands of glass beads, crystals, and intricate embroidery, the sculpted gown made Aishwarya stand out at the event.