Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a fixture at the Cannes Film Festival since her 2002 debut, made a dazzling return to the red carpet for the 22nd time in 2025—this time accompanied by her daughter, Aaradhya. With each appearance, Aishwarya has not only upheld her global fashion legacy but also turned the spotlight on Indian culture with unmistakable pride.
For this year’s Cannes outing, she chose an opulent ivory and gold ensemble featuring intricate embroidery and a cape-style dupatta. Accentuated with heavy, traditional jewelry and flowing hair, the look was both timeless and majestic. But what truly stole the show was the deep red sindoor in her hair parting—worn boldly and unapologetically, like a crown. Her deep maroon lipstick and layered necklaces elevated the aura of classic Indian elegance on an international platform.
More than just a style choice, the sindoor sparked fresh attention in light of recent speculation about her marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan. Throughout 2024, rumours of a possible rift gained traction due to their limited public appearances together and noticeable absence from each other’s social media feeds.
Despite the speculation, the couple made several joint appearances this year, including dancing together at a recent wedding in Mumbai—a moment that briefly stirred talk that Aishwarya might skip Cannes altogether. Her arrival in Nice has now silenced that buzz.
As always, Aishwarya’s presence reminded the world that she doesn’t chase trends—she defines them. Her Cannes 2025 appearance is already being hailed as one of the festival’s most iconic moments.
Meanwhile, India continues to make a strong mark at the 78th edition of the festival. Acclaimed filmmaker Payal Kapadia serves on the main competition jury, while legends Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal appeared for the world premiere of the restored version of Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest). Filmmakers Karan Johar and Neeraj Ghaywan are set to present their film Homebound, with Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter expected to walk the red carpet during its screening.
