Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes comeback: Personal statement, political symbolism, or both?

Dubai: Bollywood royalty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s 22nd appearance at the Cannes Film Festival wasn’t just a fashion moment—it read like a masterclass in silent storytelling.

Dressed in an ivory and gold Manish Malhotra sari-gown hybrid and crowned with a bold, vermillion streak of sindoor down the parting of her hair, Rai’s look was equal parts regal and resolute.

Was one of India’s most photographed woman delivering a visual and sartorial retort to her on-going divorce rumours with husband Abhishek Bachchan? Or did her striking sindoor—a sacred symbol of marriage—double up as a subtle nod to Operation Sindoor, India’s precision military strike launched just days earlier?

Whatever the intention, one thing is clear: Rai turned the Cannes red carpet into a canvas for cultural and emotional expression—and the internet took notice.

Wearing a handwoven kadwa Banarasi sari with a tissue drape and zari embroidery, Rai channelled the timeless elegance of Indian bridal iconography.

Her look was completed with 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds from Manish Malhotra Jewellery. But it was the sindoor—vivid, unapologetic, and central—that sparked a digital firestorm.

Online observers were quick to point out the strong visual parallel to her character Paro in Devdas (2002)—specifically the “thakurain era” look, where Rai as Paro wore similar gold tones, heavy jewels, red lips, and sindoor-soaked hair parting. The nostalgia was intentional, or at the very least, deeply effective.

The red carpet appearance arrives amid tabloid-fuelled speculation about cracks in her marriage. In that context, her choice of styling felt sharply curated—a defiant stand wrapped in tradition. By embracing sindoor so publicly, Rai appeared to shut down the gossip mill with one swift, shimmering turn.

Political interpretations weren’t far behind either. As India’s military operation named Operation Sindoor made headlines back home, some drew connections between the timing and symbolism of Rai’s look—interpreting it as a cultural echo of patriotic sentiment.

While Rai has been celebrated this year for her boldness and grace, her previous Cannes outings haven’t always been met with praise. From experimental makeup to over-the-top silhouettes, she’s often been at the receiving end of fashion flak. But this time, she’s being widely lauded for fusing couture with culture—and for possibly making a quiet power move in the most glamorous way.

Actors using red carpets as platforms for political or personal statements isn’t new—think Natalie Portman’s Dior cape stitched with names of snubbed female directors or Cate Blanchett re-wearing old gowns to protest fast fashion. With this turn, Rai joins that lineage, blending symbolism, legacy, and style in a single Cannes moment.

Sometimes, silence is louder than any quote. And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan just proved that—with sindoor, silk, and unshakeable poise.