Aishwarya Rai brings a slice of India to Cannes 2025 with her saree and sindoor look

Aishwarya Rai made her return to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet this year, marking her 22nd appearance. Representing India and L'Oréal Paris as a global ambassador, she arrived dressed in an ivory sari with traditional jewellery and visible sindoor, evoking a look deeply rooted in Indian culture.

She greeted photographers with a namaste, smiled warmly, and waved at onlookers before blowing kisses to her fans. The sari featured a long lace pallu over one shoulder and a dramatic train trailing on the red carpet. Her presence at the premiere of The History of Sound drew widespread attention both at the event and across social media platforms, where her photos and videos began circulating shortly after.

Aishwarya’s first appearance at Cannes dates back to 2002 when she walked the red carpet for the premiere of Devdas. Since then, she has been a regular at the festival, often celebrated for bringing elements of Indian tradition to a global platform.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival also saw notable participation from the Indian film community. Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, selected in the Un Certain Regard category, had its world premiere at the festival. The film, which stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, reportedly received a nine-minute standing ovation. The cast and crew attended both the red carpet and the official photocall.

Filmmaker Wes Anderson introduced Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri, which was screened under the Cannes Classics section after its restoration by the Film Heritage Foundation. Veteran actors Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, who starred in the film, were present at the screening and witnessed the audience’s warm reception.

Adding to India’s growing presence, filmmaker Payal Kapadia is on the main competition jury this year. Her participation comes a year after she made history by winning the Grand Prix for her debut film All We Imagine As Light, a collaborative effort between India and France.

The 2025 edition of Cannes continues to reflect the evolving yet rooted identity of Indian cinema on an international stage—traditional, contemporary, and confidently global.