Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt, who is currently dominating the headlines for her stunning appearance at the Cannes 2026, recently spoke about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who did not attend the same. Well, for the unversed, the brand, L’Oreal has been facing backlash ever since they skipped the poster of Aishwarya while talking about Cannes 2026. While Aishwarya Rai has still not spoken about it, we have Alia Bhatt to take her side.
Alia Bhatt talks about Aishwarya Rai at the Cannes 2026, despite the latter’s absence
Recently, the much-loved Bollywood actress, who made her debut with Student Of The Year, had a conversation with Vogue, during which she also spoke about Aishwarya Rai. When the Raazi actress was asked about one of the most iconic looks of Cannes, she instantly mentioned Aishwarya Rai’s 2002 look, from the premiere of the movie, Devdas. Alia Bhatt was quoted as saying:
“A Cannes look that actually goes down in my memory as absolutely iconic would have to be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Devdas premiere. The beautiful saree that she wore and just her face, it was so iconic.”
Aishwarya Rai turned heads in a yellow saree at Cannes 2002
For those who do not remember, at Cannes 2002, much-celebrated star, Aishwarya Rai attended the event with her co-star, Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The actress turned heads in a bright yellow saree designed by Neeta Lulla. The outfit featured a heavy border and golden embroidery. She completed her gorgeous look with statement jewellery including a choker, matching earrings and bangles. On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan opted for a classic black suit. However, what grabbed attention was that the trio stepped out from a horse-drawn carriage at the event.
L’Oreal faced backlash for featuring Alia Bhatt as the brand ambassador days before Cannes 2026
A few days before Cannes 2026, L’Oreal took to their Instagram handle to share a promotional campaign of the film festival. The video clip featured a poster of Alia Bhatt. However, fans were irritated and annoyed as they did not include a poster of Aishwarya Rai, even though she has represented the brand for decades.
Soon after the video clip went viral, multiple fans shared their thoughts on the same. One user commented, “We don’t know loreal without Aishwarya. Still can’t forget Aish saying, ‘because, Im worth it’ Need her back !!!” Another user shared, “No matter how many ambassadors (even 100 alias) L’Oréal signs, none of them can match the timeless elegance and commanding presence that Aishwarya brings and that holds true even today.”
A third user wrote, “Where is Aishwarya?” Eventually when the backlash intensified, the brand broke their silence on Aishwarya’s absence. They described the actress as a living legend and stated that every year Cannes missed her. Their statement was, “A living legend, and she knows exactly what to do with that. Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses.”
More about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s looks at the Cannes
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been one of the most talked-about names during every Cannes Film Festival. Some even call her ‘Queen of Cannes’. Well, for the unversed, she made her debut in 2002, during the premiere of Devdas and over the years, she stole the limelight with princess-style gown, Indian outfits and more. However, one of the most iconic looks came in 2025, when she wore an ivory Banarasi saree designed by Manish Malhotra. The same year, she also opted for a black gown by Gaurav Gupta.
What are your thoughts on Alia Bhatt talking about Aishwarya Rai at the Cannes 2026, despite the latter’s absence? Let us know.
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