For nearly two weeks now, Cannes has carried on with its usual glamour, celebrity appearances and endless red carpet moments, but for many Indian audiences, something felt noticeably missing. Since the festival began on May 12, conversations online kept circling back to one question: where is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan? The curiosity only intensified after L’Oréal Paris unveiled its Cannes campaign visuals without featuring Aishwarya, sparking speculation that she may skip the festival this year.
Social media reactions were immediate, with fans questioning her absence and wondering if this marked the end of an era. But on Thursday night, those rumours finally came to an end when Aishwarya was spotted at the Mumbai airport with daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, leaving for Cannes.
The visuals instantly became viral, not because they were dramatic, but because they felt so familiar. Dressed in co-ordinated black outfits, Aishwarya and Aaradhya moved through the airport quietly while photographers followed closely behind. It was a scene audiences have watched unfold for years now, almost like an unofficial beginning to India’s Cannes coverage every year.
For the airport appearance, Aishwarya kept things elegant and minimal in a black Dhruv Kapoor blazer with matching trousers. She paired the look with Gucci Signoria boots and carried a Gucci Diana handbag that quickly grabbed attention online. With sleek straight hair and her classic red lipstick, the overall styling felt effortless while still carrying the star power people associate with her.
What makes Aishwarya’s Cannes arrival matter every year goes far beyond fashion. It is deeply connected to the history she shares with the festival. She first attended Cannes in 2002 for the premiere of Devdas alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Her yellow Neeta Lulla saree from that appearance still remains one of the most remembered Indian Cannes looks even today. In 2003, she became the first Indian actor to join the Cannes jury while also beginning her long standing association with L’Oréal Paris.
Over the years, her appearances at Cannes have turned into cultural moments of their own. Whether it was the dramatic Michael Cinco gown in 2017 or her saree appearances in recent years, Aishwarya’s red carpet choices have always sparked conversation. Some were celebrated, some debated, but almost all of them stayed memorable.
Perhaps that is why her delayed arrival this year became such a major talking point. It highlighted how deeply audiences connect Aishwarya with Cannes itself. In a time where celebrity culture moves quickly and red carpets are dominated by influencers and viral content, Aishwarya still represents a more classic kind of stardom. Her Cannes appearances feel less like promotional appearances and more like part of a long running cultural memory that audiences continue to return to year after year.