Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Sara Ali Khan’s lehenga outfit at the Cannes red carpet was well received, and she was in some very impressive company. Desi women like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Sonam Kapoor have worn lehengas to Cannes throughout the years, with varying degrees of success. Aishwarya, the original, donned not one but two lehengas to her 2003 jury service. They weren’t as skintight as Sonam wore subsequently or Sara wore this year. Aishwarya’s lehengas during the Neetu Lulla era were blingy to the point of becoming garish.
At the inaugural ceremony, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan paired her maroon lehenga with a pink top. Sonam Kapoor wore an ivory Ralph & Russo dress in 2018:
In 2013, Vidya Balan wore two lehengas, both by Sabyasachi, to her much-criticized jury service appearance. Each had an ornate design, yet one that was uniquely their own.
Both Sonam and Vidya wore nose rings with their sarees at Cannes, adding some desi flavor to the red carpet. Sonam adorned her lehenga’s braid with a detailed accessory.
On the red carpet of the opening night of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Sara Ali Khan wore an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creation: an ivory lehenga with shadow work and embroidery, a blouse embellished with pearls and resham, and a veil attached to her hair that trailed behind her.
In addition to Sara Ali Khan, other celebrities who graced the red carpet Friday night were Manushi Chhillar, Esha Gupta, and Urvashi Rautela. While Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be returning for the 21st time, Anushka Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Mrunal Thakur will all be making their debuts at the festival this year.
