Mindy Kaling turned heads at the Met Gala 2024 in a striking beige sculptural gown designed by Indian fashion maestro Gaurav Gupta. Dubbed “The Melting Flower of Time,” the intricately textured creation garnered widespread acclaim, with Kaling herself praising Gupta as a “genius” during an interview with Vogue on the red carpet.
However, despite the gown’s popularity, some eagle-eyed netizens couldn’t overlook its resemblance to a previous ensemble worn by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, also crafted by Gaurav Gupta. Aishwarya’s pink gown, inspired by a seashell and requiring 3500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, served as the original inspiration for Kaling’s version.
The similarity did not go unnoticed by fashion watchdog Diet Sabya, who promptly shared a comparison of Aishwarya and Mindy donning similar Gaurav Gupta designs. The Instagram handle, known for its commitment to maintaining integrity within the fashion industry, expressed its disapproval with a succinct “Gutsss.”
While Kaling’s gown drew admiration for its interpretation of the Met Gala’s floral theme, the comparison to Aishwarya’s iconic Cannes dress sparked discussions about originality and inspiration in fashion design.
