Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan finally made her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, walking the red carpet in a sculptural blue gown by designer Amit Aggarwal.
Aishwarya, who has represented L’Oreal Paris at Cannes since 2003 as a global brand ambassador, on Friday greeted waiting photographers with a namaste and posed alongside fellow ambassador and actor Eva Longoria on the red carpet.
The two attended the screening of Palme d’Or contender The Birthday Party (Histoires De La Nuit), starring Monica Bellucci.
Her outfit, called Luminara, was a couture piece built around the concept of light in motion, with the design translating light as energy, movement, and force through sculptural construction and engineered craftsmanship.
The actor completed the look with a sheen dupatta, soft loose curls, pink-toned makeup, red lipstick and diamond-studded jewellery with blue stones.
In the evening, Aishwarya changed into a pastel pink gown with floral detailing and a flowing sheer cape by Sophie Couture for the “Lights On Women’s Worth” event, which was also attended by Longoria, Ariana Greenblatt, Amy Jackson and others.
She was accompanied by her 14-year-old daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, who wore a satin red gown with a shimmering cape.
The appearance marked one of Aaradhya’s more prominent turns on an international red carpet, though she has accompanied her mother to Cannes events on previous occasions.
Aishwarya’s arrival at the film and fashion gala came after weeks of speculation that had begun on May 10, when L’Oreal Paris posted a promotional video showing giant campaign visuals being mounted on a hotel facade in Cannes ahead of the festival.
The short clip featured Alia Bhatt, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria and Helen Mirren but not Aishwarya and questions about her absence spread quickly across Instagram and X.
When a follower tagged L’Oreal asking where Aishwarya was, noting that Cannes was the rare occasion many got to see her, the brand replied: “Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses.”
Aishwarya and Aaradhya left for Cannes on Thursday and were photographed by the paparazzi at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Cannes appearances of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt ignite fan war
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt became the centre of online debate after their appearances at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026, with fans comparing their red-carpet looks and sparking a wave of divided reactions on social media.
Comment sections turned into heated exchanges, with supporters of Aishwarya praising her elegance and iconic presence, while Alia’s fans defended her modern style and blush pink gown worn during the festival’s opening day.
Alia appeared in a soft pink body-hugging outfit at the red carpet, while Aishwarya showcased a royal blue shimmering bodycon gown that highlighted her signature regal style.
Despite comparisons, some users urged others to stop pitting the two actresses against each other and instead appreciate their individual fashion choices.
Aishwarya also appeared with her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, wearing multiple pastel-toned ensembles including a baby pink outfit and a floral pastel gown with flowing cape sleeves, both of which went viral for their elegance and scenic French Riviera backdrop.
The actress’s Cannes presence also included a moment at Mumbai airport before departure, where she and her daughter were seen in coordinated black outfits and briefly interacted with fans.
Aishwarya’s long association with Cannes, dating back to her 2002 debut, further added context to her continued prominence at the festival. (Agencies)
