recently drew attention at the Miss Universe India pageant after appearing in a gown inspired by the colours of the Indian national flag. The outfit featured saffron, white and green shades, along with an Ashoka Chakra-inspired motif at the centre. While the design received appreciation from some viewers, it also prompted questions online about its resemblance to the national flag.
Urvashi Explains the Idea Behind Her Outfit
Speaking about the design, Rautela said she wanted her country to be represented not merely as a nationality but as an important part of her identity. She explained that the intention was to wear something that communicated both her origins and what India means to her.
According to the actor, the outfit was conceived specifically as an artistic expression of that sentiment. Rather than choosing a conventional patriotic look, she wanted the design to translate her feelings towards the country into a fashion statement suitable for the pageant stage.
The gown reportedly took around three months to complete. Rautela said incorporating three colours into a single outfit while maintaining the intended design and visual effect was not a simple process.
Actor Says the Gown Was Inspired, Not Identical
Rautela also responded to criticism surrounding the outfit. Some people questioned the use of the tricolour combination, particularly because portions of the gown appeared across the lower part of her outfit and its trail extended onto the floor.
Addressing those concerns, she stressed that the gown should not be considered an exact reproduction of the Indian national flag. She described it instead as a couture creation that drew inspiration from elements associated with the tricolour.
She pointed to differences in the shades, positioning, fabric and central motif as distinguishing features. According to Rautela, these choices were deliberately made to create a particular visual effect under the coloured lighting used on a theatrical stage.
She described the creation as a theatrical, high-fashion tribute using the three colours and a Chakra-like central design, rather than an attempt to recreate the national flag itself.
Rules Govern the Use of India’s National Flag
The discussion also brings attention to the rules governing the display and use of the Indian national flag. The Flag Code of India, 2002, along with the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, sets out provisions concerning the respectful treatment of the national flag.
The source material notes that the national flag should not touch the ground or trail in water. It also states that under the 1971 legislation, using the national flag as clothing worn below the waist, as part of a uniform or accessory, or reproducing it through embroidery or printing on clothing can constitute disrespect.
Publicly insulting or showing disrespect to the national flag can attract legal consequences, including imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both, according to the provisions cited in the source.
Fashion Statement Sparks a Wider Discussion
Rautela’s explanation places the gown within the context of fashion and artistic expression, while the criticism highlights the sensitivity surrounding the use of national symbols in clothing and public appearances.
The episode has therefore drawn attention to the distinction between a design inspired by national colours and the direct use or reproduction of the national flag. The specific outfit was presented by Rautela as a couture interpretation created for a stage setting, while the legal rules governing the national flag continue to apply to the flag itself and its regulated use.