Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opens up on Cannes look amid harsh criticism of her fashion choices: ‘It was just magical’

In a recent video feature by Vogue India, the Devdas actress shed light on the creative forces behind her first-day appearance at Cannes. She revealed that her close friends, Shane and Falguni Peacock, were the masterminds behind the design, which they dubbed “Guilded Glow”. The actor, who is now back in Mumbai, described the ensemble as “magical” and emphasised the intention to achieve a ‘fresh’ and ‘beautiful’ makeup look to complement the outfit. “The look last evening on the red carpet was designed by my dearest friends Shane and Falguni Peacock. They call it gilded glow but to me, it was just magical,” said the 50-year-old, who was accompanied by her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan to the festival.

For her first appearance, Aishwarya opted for a black gown adorned with elegant touches of bling. The white puffed sleeves added a dramatic flair to the ensemble, while her signature cat eyeliner and bold lips provided a familiar yet striking complement to the outfit. Despite gracing the iconic steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès with her usual poise, Aishwarya’s look garnered mixed reviews. Some felt that her appearance came across as “shabby” and “unattractive” rather than “dramatic”, noting that it left much to be desired in terms of style and glamour.

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The video, uploaded as a YouTube Short on Vogue India‘s channel, sparked further commentary from netizens who called out Aishwarya’s fashion choices. One user wrote, “Alas sorry gown… Magical.. No… Time to change your designer.”

“Aish please ditch those designers and go for someone who’ll dress you up beautifully. They made a mockery out of that second green-white gown. Also, this jacket is another Daler Mehendi types,” wrote a Reddit user.

Aishwarya on vogue india’s IG
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Aishwarya’s second Cannes look saw her donning a striking silver and blue gown, complete with dramatic sleeves and a voluminous skirt. Designed by the celebrated designer duo, the ensemble generated a wave of mixed reactions, inspiring memes and harsh critiques from some netizens, who labelled the look as “outright bizarre.”

Over the years, Aishwarya, who made her Cannes debut dressed in a yellow Neeta Lulla saree in 2002, has been a constant presence at the Cannes Film Festival, representing India on the global stage. While the Bollywood icon has often impressed fashion critics with her style choices, there have been a few misses along the way.

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Some of Aishwarya’s less successful Cannes looks include a feather-adorned gown by Ashi Studio in 2019, which was criticised for its heavy eye makeup and imposing hairdo. In 2023, her silver gown from Sophie Couture received mixed reviews, with some finding the oversized hood and large black bow to be off-putting. However, Aishwarya has also had her share of fashionable triumphs at Cannes, her appearances continue to captivate audiences and showcase her unique fashion sense, even if not every look is a hit with critics.