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.
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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.
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The two attended the screening of Palme d’Or contender “The Birthday Party” (Histoires De La Nuit), starring Monica Bellucci.
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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.
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The actor completed the look with a sheen dupatta, soft, loose curls, pink-toned makeup, red lipstick, and diamond-studded jewellery with blue stones.
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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.
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She was accompanied by her 14-year-old daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, who wore a satin red gown with a shimmering cape.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Mumbaiโs Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.