Sonam Chhabra stopped to walk the Cannes red carpet for wearing cape honouring Pahalgam attack victims

Indian actor and performer Sonam Chhabra made a strong emotional and political statement at the Cannes Film Festival — though it didn’t make it to the red carpet.

Sonam attended the festival wearing a specially designed cape meant to honor the victims of major terror attacks in India. The cape was bold and meaningful. It had the word “UNBROKEN” written across it, symbolizing the strength and resilience of the Indian people. It also listed the names and years of four tragic attacks: 2008 – Mumbai, 2016 – Uri, 2019 – Pulwama, and 2025 – Pahalgam. Through this outfit, Sonam aimed to share a powerful story of remembrance, pain, and strength using fashion as her voice.

Although she was officially invited to the festival, Sonam was not allowed to wear the cape on the red carpet. While the event organizers allowed her presence, they denied her request to walk the red carpet in the symbolic outfit. The decision has led to a lot of conversation both in India and internationally.

Many people have praised Sonam for her bravery and creativity. Her effort to use the global stage of Cannes to share a national message touched many hearts. Supporters believe she used art and fashion in a meaningful way—not as a protest, but as a respectful tribute to those lost and to the strength of the nation. This has sparked larger questions about how far creative freedom can go at international events like Cannes.

Even though the cape was not shown during the official red carpet walk, the story behind it has made a lasting impression. In some ways, its absence has drawn even more attention to the message Sonam wanted to share. The word “UNBROKEN” continues to echo in people’s minds, reminding us all of the human stories behind such tragedies and the importance of resilience.

Sonam’s attempt to combine fashion, memory, and national pride has started a much-needed global discussion about the role of creativity in speaking truth and honoring history — even when the spotlight is denied.

Sonam is a content creator and also an actor and has appeared in Amazon Prime- MADE IN HEAVEN season 2 and KIRKET the film She will be seen on upcoming Dharma Productions show PITCH TO GET RICH alongside Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar, Mallaika Arora, etc