It’s a universal truth that May is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan‘s month. Each year, she walks down the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival, delivering showstopper moments. She sidesteps the predictable classics for bold choices. From conversation-starting lilac lip colours to Gaurav Gupta‘s dramatic silhouettes, nothing is off-limits in her sartorial rulebook. As another edition of Cannes prepares to unfold this week, we turn back time to revisit her ever-evolving fashion journey at the festival.
Tracing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s sartorial evolution at Cannes
The former Miss World made her debut at Cannes in 2002 in a statement yellow Neeta Lulla sari. The following year, she turned to the designer once again, walking the red carpet in a lehenga with a pink bustier, followed by another sari in a striking shade of neon green. In 2004, she opted for a risqué cut-out gown by the designer. From then on, her fashion mood board looked westward for inspiration—she wore a svelte Gucci gown with a plunging neckline in 2005.
Having hit her stride, Rai Bachchan delivered a showstopper moment at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival in a strapless Elie Saab gown paired with a bejewelled serpentine neckpiece. After tying the knot in April 2007, she returned to the red carpet alongside husband Abhishek Bachchan in a sleek Giorgio Armani gown. She loved the look enough to return to the designer the following summer, this time in another strapless creation. Then came a bold pivot from classic neutrals to the vibrant fuchsia tones of a sweeping Roberto Cavalli gown.
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In 2009, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan gave her vote to ivory, wearing a form-fitting Roberto Cavalli gown with a dramatic ruffled train. The following year marked her return to Indian designers with an embellished Sabyasachi sari. It was also the start of her long-standing association with Elie Saab in a muted lavender gown. In 2012, for her first post-baby Cannes appearance, she turned to the Lebanese couturier once again. Her next outing at the festival, she sported a sleek Gucci look that stood out on the red carpet.
In 2014, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore Cavalli. The gilded number was worn with siren red lips and superstar waves. Following on the heels of the red carpet success, she embraced drama the following year with a Ralph & Russo number in 2015 and another emerald Elie Saab lace gown paired with a deep marsala lip colour. While her 2016 appearance is best remembered for the internet-breaking lilac lipstick and floral Rami Kadi gown, she also stayed true to her signature romanticism in a delicate Elie Saab look, complete with old-Hollywood waves.
By 2017, the actor had clocked 15 years of appearances at the annual film festival but proved she hadn’t run out of steam just yet, wearing a voluminous Cinderella-esque gown by Dubai-based couturier Michael Cinco. Before anyone had a chance to catch their breath, she returned to the red carpet in a full-skirted Ralph & Russo creation, complete with Boomerang-approved tiered ruffles.
Rai Bachchan turned to Michael Cinco again in 2018 for another showstopper moment, boldly stepping out of her comfort zone in a butterfly-patterned gown with an embellished train that carved a path through the swarm of stars, paparazzi, and film folk. Ivory may not have been a novel choice in her Cannes repertoire, but she made her second look distinct by pairing the structured Rami Kadi gown with a Samurai-inspired topknot.
In 2019, the actor returned to the Croisette with her signature flair for drama and high-octane glamour, turning to Lebanese designer Jean-Louis Sabaji for a molten gold creation. However, it was her hand-in-hand appearance with daughter Aaradhya—dressed in a butter yellow tulle dress complete with a rosette shoulder—that added an unexpected touch of family warmth to a high-fashion moment. Rai Bachchan followed this with an all-white Ashi Studio gown. The feathered bolero and layered tulle exuded old Hollywood, especially with her smoky eye glam and delicate pearl drop earrings.
Marking two decades since her Cannes debut, Rai Bachchan embraced bold theatricality in 2022. Her first look was a blush pink Gaurav Gupta creation, crafted over 3,500 hours, featuring his signature wave pleats and a sculptural halo. Later, she turned to classic glamour in a black Dolce & Gabbana gown adorned with oversized floral appliqués.
Few do high drama at Cannes quite like Rai Bachchan, and in 2023, she reminded everyone why with a head-turning Sophie Couture gown. The silver-hooded number was covered in sequins and was cinched with a large black bow, leaning into a futuristic aesthetic.
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Making headlines again last year, the actor’s controversial blue-silver Falguni Shane Peacock number with dramatic feather-like fringes was a hot topic on the internet. Her second look by the same designers was a black corset gown that took over two months to complete, featuring gold lightning bolts and butterfly motifs in a metal material.
