Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela has fiercely responded to the wave of online criticism following her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. A number of media outlets and social media users accused her of imitating Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, dubbing her as “Aishwarya Rai with 0 charisma.” Urvashi, however, made it clear she is no one’s copy, asserting her individuality with a fiery post on Instagram.
“I’m the Blueprint, Not a Duplicate”
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Urvashi addressed the comparisons head-on. In a now widely shared post, she wrote, “So apparently I’m ‘trying to be Aishwarya Rai with 0 charisma’? Darling… Aishwarya is iconic. But I’m not here to be anyone’s duplicate. I’m the blueprint.”
Emphasizing her purpose at Cannes, Urvashi added, “Cannes didn’t invite me to blend in – I came to stand out. If my look, my style, or my confidence makes you uncomfortable… maybe take a deep breath (or two).” She concluded her post with the mic-drop line: “And charisma? Sweetheart, if you could measure it, I’d break the scale.”
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Using hashtags like #TooMuchCharismaToHandle and #NotYourCopyPaste, Urvashi celebrated her bold persona and stood by her statement, although she turned off comments on the post, perhaps anticipating further negativity.
Responds to Staircase Controversy
Shortly after addressing the Aishwarya comparisons, Urvashi also responded to a separate controversy. Reports surfaced that she allegedly blocked a staircase at Cannes for a photoshoot, creating a disturbance. Rubbishing these claims, she issued a strong rebuttal.
“My team secured full permission for a photoshoot on a designated staircase, as did others, in strict adherence to every rule of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival,” her statement read. She labeled the reports as “cowardly lies” aimed at undermining outsiders in the industry who dare to shine.
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Urvashi condemned what she described as “venomous attacks” on her character and maintained her respect for the festival’s rules and decorum.
On the Work Front
Professionally, Urvashi was recently seen in the film Daaku Maharaaj, alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bobby Deol, Pragya Jaiswal, and others. The film marks another addition to her growing repertoire as she continues to explore diverse roles across regional and Bollywood cinema.
In standing up for herself against online vitriol, Urvashi Rautela has once again positioned herself as a strong, unapologetic voice in the entertainment industry.
