Why do they get away with it? Sandalwood lacks the rigorous fashion policing of Milan or Mumbai. There are no fashion critics zooming in on fabric composition. As long as the color looks good on 4K video, the audience applauds. Perhaps the most egregious section of this gallery is the jewelry. Real gold and diamonds are heavy, expensive, and require security. For a song shoot in a foreign location, insuring real gems is a nightmare.

Most Sandalwood heroines operate on a brutal economic reality. Unlike their Bollywood counterparts who command crores per endorsement, many Sandalwood actresses are paid a fraction of the budget. Yet, they must project the lifestyle of a global superstar. The solution?

The gallery is a symptom of a sick system. The "fake fashion" isn't the crime; the unrealistic expectation of perpetual luxury is.