Absolutely iconic: Alia Bhatt gushes over Aishwarya Rai's Devdas Cannes look
Actor Alia Bhatt said Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's look at the premiere of Devdas at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival remains her most memorable appearance. Her remark has renewed attention on Aishwarya's long legacy at the film festival.
Alia Bhatt picked Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look from the premiere of Devdas as the most iconic Cannes Film Festival appearance in her memory. She said Aishwarya’s appearance at the 2002 premiere stayed with her over the years.
Her comment comes as attention remains on Aishwarya’s long association with Cannes and L'oreal Paris and her absence at the festival this year. Alia, who has already walked the Cannes red carpet twice, is currently making a statement with her stylish and couture appearances. Both actors are global faces of the same beauty brand.
Alia Bhatt's shout-out to Aishwarya Rai
In the interaction with British Vogue, Alia said, “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 sari that she wore and just her face, it was so iconic (sic).”
The Devdas premiere at Cannes in 2002 marked a major moment for Indian cinema on the global stage. Aishwarya attended the festival with Shah Rukh Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Their appearance remains one of the best-remembered Bollywood moments at Cannes.
A Cannes legacy under focus
Aishwarya’s Cannes presence was also discussed recently after she did not appear on L’Oreal Paris promotional posters at Le Martinez Hotel. Her absence and Alia's inclusion in the poster led to comments from fans on Instagram and other social media platforms. Several fans asked why the Devdas star had been left out despite representing the brand at Cannes for more than two decades.
Replying to fans on Instagram, L’Oreal Paris called her “a living legend”. In another response, the brand wrote, “Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses.” The reactions followed comments from fans who said Aishwarya and Cannes have become closely linked over the years.
Aishwarya attended Cannes for the first time in 2002 for Devdas. The following year, she made her debut at the festival as a L’Oreal ambassador. Since 2003, she has appeared on the Cannes red carpet almost every year and has remained one of the most recognised Indian faces at the festival.
On the work front, Alia is awaiting the release of her spy film Alpha. She is also working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, which is set to release in cinemas in 2027.
Aishwarya was last seen in Ponniyin Selvan: II, which was released in 2023. She is yet to announce her next project.