Year after year, the Cannes Film Festival provides a global forum not just for film but for indelible fashion moments – and in 2025, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once again commanded attention. With a presence both regal and experimental, Aishwarya’s appearances at Cannes become much more than just red carpet moments, they serve as representations of culture, style, and elegance.
Day 1: Honoring Indian Culture
Aishwarya arrived on Day 1, in an ensemble that immediately enthralled the audience, wearing a stunning ivory Kadwa Banarasi saree by prominent Indian designer Manish Malhotra. This saree was a wonderful example of traditional making, woven with elaborate silver zari work, complemented with a sheer tissue pallu. It was the ultimate take on sustainability.
It is safe to say that the accessories took her outfit up a notch. A statement necklace with 500-carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds set in 18k gold hung from her neck, and it was designed by Malhotra’s jewelry, which complemented the lush beauty of the Banarasi weave.
However, what made her look even more powerful, was wearing a small detail: Aishwarya wore sindoor (a traditional red vermillion powder that is worn in the parting of the hair). In an industry where fashion often appropriates the symbolism found in heritage, this quiet tribute made her headline news! Some perceived it as a tip of the hat to her roots and marriage, while others believed it was simply a response to speculation surrounding her personal life.
Whatever people’s interpretations of Aishwarya, there was much encouragement from social media and fans alike, for elegantly combining heritage with haute couture. There were many social media posts that not only praised the actress for her dress, but also for reminding them why she remains, even decades after being crowned Miss World, an international style icon.
Day 2: Futuristic Glamour with a Spiritual Center
She completed the look with vintage wavy hair, bright red lipstick, and the understated airs of poised confidence that attracted the attention of people around the world. If the moment weren’t iconic enough, there was also a wardrobe malfunction, when fellow actor Helen Mirren accidentally walked on the trailing cape. Being so charming, Aishwarya flashed a smile and just pulled the fabric back, handling the moment gracefully, as she is known for. If Day 1 was about timeless elegance from India, Day 2 was all about risk-taking and avant-garde fashion. Aishwarya walked the red carpet in a black sculpted velvet gown by Gaurav Gupta, who works with bold silhouettes and cosmic themes. The strapless gown depicted galactic embroidered figures, and hugged her body perfectly.
One is most struck by the flocked silver cape billowing down her back, embroidered with a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. The shloka is intensely poetic in context, and purposeful in design; it wasn’t merely a design element. To wear a sacred text on an international stage wove spirituality into fashion at Cannes in a way that has, very rarely, been accomplished.
I can only describe this as emphatically postmodern, and honestly evocative. Feminist yet divine, and alluring without relying on hypersexualized designs, embellishments, or ornamentation.
She completed the look with vintage wavy hair, bright red lipstick, and the understated airs of a poised confidence that attracted the attention of people around the world. If the moment weren’t iconic enough, there was also a wardrobe malfunction, when fellow actor Helen Mirren accidentally walked on the trailing cape. Being so charming, Aishwarya flashed a smile and just pulled the fabric back, handling the moment gracefully, as she is known for.
A Mother-Daughter Moment
To add to the heart of her Cannes experience, on Day 2, Aishwarya was able to be joined by her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan. The mother/daughter pair twinned in black outfits, and their picture quickly went viral. Aaradhya, who has been accompanying her mother to Cannes for a few years now, looked stylish and so sweet on the red carpet, evoking the same effortless poise as her mother.
This was not just another cute moment for a photo op, but a moment showcasing a powerful bond, and perhaps even the next generation taking over—a cool icon was graciously leading another.
Why It Mattered
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s appearance at Cannes 2025 was more than just a moment in fashion; it was cultural diplomacy through couture. The forms of Indian representation in global fashion are mounting, but often through a stereotyped lens. The looks she presented expressed a much more complex narrative. She paid homage to the past, celebrated the new, and exuded the composure and dignity of someone who understands how to expertly embody her voice and her roots.
From a Banarasi saree to a Gaurav Gupta galactic gown, Aishwarya also reminded audiences around the world exactly why she continues to be a favourite at Cannes. As cameras flashed and admirers cheered, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walked in not only designer heels, but with legacy, elegance, and unapologetic pride.
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