Our Bureau
Cannes
Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turned heads at the 78th Cannes Film Festival as she paid homage to her debut appearance from 23 years ago, dazzling in an ivory Banarasi saree and making a striking cultural statement with a bold streak of sindoor.
Rai Bachchan, who first graced the Cannes red carpet in 2002 for the premiere of “Devdas,” recreated her memorable saree look, this time donning a handwoven creation by designer Manish Malhotra. The actress accessorized with an opulent necklace featuring over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds set in 18k gold, but it was her thick, center-parted sindoor—a traditional symbol of marriage in India—that truly captured attention and sparked conversation online.
Social media erupted with admiration as images and videos of the actress’s look went viral. Fans and celebrities alike flooded her Instagram post with praise. “Nobody can really beat her… QUEEN is always a QUEEN, doesn’t matter with or without the CROWN,” wrote one user. Another commented, “The OG Queen of Cannes—you look amazing as always, Ash!”
Many netizens hailed Aishwarya as the perfect cultural ambassador, lauding her for blending Indian tradition with global glamour. Some even dubbed her appearance “Operation Sindoor,” celebrating her unapologetic embrace of Indian identity on an international stage.
Aishwarya’s return to the saree after years of experimenting with Western couture at Cannes was seen as a powerful nod to her roots. Her look drew comparisons to her 2002 debut, where she wore a golden saree by Neeta Lulla, and reinforced her status as a style icon.
