For over two decades, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been a familiar face at the Cannes Film Festival. It all began in 2002, when she was first invited for the premiere of her Bollywood movie, Devdas (2002). Since then, she has been appointed as the first Indian actress to serve as a Cannes jury member and has consistently made headlines for her impeccable red carpet-style. Whether she’s donning traditional saris, glamorous cocktail dresses or couture ball gowns, Bachchan sure knows how to leave a lasting impression on the red carpet.
As we eagerly anticipate her return to the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, we revisit some of her best-style moments at the French Rivieria.
2023: Futuristic couture
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan brought Sophie Couture’s breathtaking avant-garde creation to life when she arrived on the red carpet for the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). She wore a metallic gown with a dramatic hood that framed her entire upper body. For the finishing touch, a black bow was cinched at her waist.
2022: Birth of Venus
The Bollywood actress looked every bit like the goddess of beauty and love wearing the Venus Sculpture dress by Indian couturier, Gaurav Gupta. As the name suggests, the inspiration behind the couture gown is Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. The stunning dress features a dramatic shell-like shoulder detail, a pink pearlescent hue and thousands of iridescent glass beads.
2019: Glowing fluorescent
Who would have thought that neon could look fashionable on the red carpet? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might have shown us how. She rocked a fluorescent Jean-Louis Sabaji couture gown embellished with metallic snakeskin that added a futuristic edge to her look.
2018: Butterfly beauty
Once again, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tapped into Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco for her red carpet ensemble at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. She made heads turn in a mesmerising butterfly-inspired dress with a 20-foot cape that trailed gracefully behind her. With its ornate pattern and Swarovski crystal embellishments, it’s hardly surprising that the dress took a total of 3000 hours to craft.
2017: The Cinderella gown
A dramatic ball gown never fails to command all the attention in the room. The Indian actress effortlessly transformed into a Disney princess as she slipped into a frosty blue ball gown from Michael Cinco’s Fall/Winter 2017 collection. This breathtaking couture gown was truly a sight to behold with its voluminous skirt with carefully tailored pleats and intricate floral embroidery.
2014: Shimmer and sparkle
For a red-carpet affair, shimmer and sparkle always steal the spotlight. The Bollywood actress served Hollywood glamour with her golden Robert Cavalli evening gown, cascading curls and signature red lip. The bedazzling ensemble showcases a criss-cross design, a waist-cinching corset and a graceful mermaid silhouette.
2015: White ballgown
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was an absolute vision in an white elegant Ralph and Russo gown as she stepped onto the red carpet to attend the screening of For the Screening of Youth (2015). Leaning towards a monochromatic palette, the dress boats graceful ruffles and floral accents. She completed the look with a nude lip and smoky eye makeup that left us enraptured by her youthful beauty.
2002: Golden sari
For her very first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan proudly showcased her cultural roots by opting for a traditional Indian garment: a golden sari that draped elegantly around her figure. She radiated an aura of regality with opulent gold bangles and earrings that complemented the intricate beadwork of her sari.
This story originally appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.