Stebin Ben and Nupur Sanon’s wedding has been one of the most talked-about star weddings of early 2026, not just for the lavish ceremonies, celebrity guest list, and glamorous moments, but also for an unexpected fashion controversy that took over social media.
After tying the knot in Udaipur with a Christian ceremony on January 10 and a Hindu wedding on January 11, Nupur Sanon and singer-musician Stebin Ben hosted a spectacular reception in Mumbai for friends from the film and music industries. While the bride stunned in a maroon off-shoulder corset gown designed by Manish Malhotra, a different conversation began brewing online soon after pictures and videos from the event were shared widely.
Steby Ben, sister of Stebin Ben and sister-in-law to Nupur was photographed at the reception wearing a gown that, in the rush of low-resolution pics and candid clips, appeared strikingly similar in colour and silhouette to the bride’s own dress. This similarity quickly sparked reactions from netizens on platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Social media users were quick to compare the two looks, and many didn’t hold back:Some comments questioned the choice, asking, “Why did she wear the same outfit?”Others went further, suggesting jealousy or poor etiquette on a bride’s special night.Stereotypes and clichés about in-laws competing with the bride also surfaced in several threads.
One user reportedly wrote something along the lines of, “Ye obsession nahi, jealousy kehlati hai,“ implying that it wasn’t just a coincidence but jealousy. Another joked, “Everyone wants to be a bride these days.” Yet other commenters pushed back against the outrage, pointing out that similar outfits among family members at weddings can happen often and don’t necessarily imply bad intent.
In an exclusive conversation with media, Steby Ben called the trolling “crazy” and urged people to “stop looking for a villain.” She said she was completely blindsided by the online reaction and that it was unfair to make assumptions based on a few snapshots. A custom piece she chose months before the wedding,Approved by Nupur herself,And discussed within the family well in advance.
She pointed out that the outfit only looks similar in a few photos — the silhouette, cut, material and colour tone are different — and stressed that there was no intent to mimic the bride. Steby also addressed other chatter around her white dress at the Christian wedding, clarifying that she — like many other guests — wore white because it was the chosen dress code, not to upstage the bride.
Steby made it clear there’s no bad blood between her and Nupur. In fact, she described their relationship as warm and friendly, saying they often hang out, shop together, and stay in touch despite living in different cities. Even the bride’s side, including Kriti Sanon, shared affectionate and supportive moments online, focusing on the joy of the wedding celebrations rather than feeding into the online drama.
This episode highlights how quickly social platforms can turn personal celebrations into public controversies — especially where fashion and celebrity are involved. What may be an innocent outfit choice or coincidence can spiral into global commentary within hours. Whether people agree or disagree with the trolls, one thing’s clear: social media has a low tolerance for anything that might be perceived as shifting the spotlight away from a bride on her big day.