The 76th Cannes Film Festival is underway with film premieres and photocalls. The Indian contingent is putting their best foot forward and slaying the red carpets. While the theme of showcasing Indianness has been centre stage but how impactful is it, is under debate. We've watched the red carpet looks of our desi divas with a hawkeye in the last three days.
Here are some of the noteworthy red carpet moments:
1. Sara Ali Khan
The 26-year-old actor has used India as the theme for her looks, such as this Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla white saree. The saree has been draped in a way to add drama and make it contemporary. Compared to Sara's debut look, this modern saree avatar was far more suited to an international red carpet allowing the country's heritage to shine bright without the burden of a bridal ensemble. The black and white beaded halter bralette adds the glam factor to the look that is completed by her dramatic eyes and French bun.
2. Mrunal Thakur
Mrunal Thakur’s debut at Cannes Film Festival with vodka brand, Grey Goose has been talk of the town. She absolutely slayed in the Dhruv Kapoor black lace pants and sequin jacket. But it was this custom Anamika Khanna look that garnered the most eyeballs. The asymmetrical ivory dress is inspired by the designer’s archival work but with a contemporary twist. The hood, which is a couture trend for 2023, was been the most fascinating part of this look. Her makeup was on point, adding and not distracting from her look. Irrespective of whether this dramatic look worked or not for Mrunal, she definitely earns brownie points for pushing the envelope on conventional red carpet looks.
3. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a Cannes veteran, and over the years she has wowed us with some spectacular looks. At the 76th Cannes Film Festival, she walked the red carpet for the screening of Indiana Jones And The Dials Of Destiny in a Sophie Couture metallic dress. The metallic gown was specially designed and created for Aishwarya at the designer’s Baku atelier. Aishwarya’s makeup was kept classic with bold lips and winged eyeliner. Her open tresses added a sense of bewitchment. Over the years, Aishwarya has stunned and failed equally on the Cannes res carpet, this metallic dress will also have the world split on opinions. For us, the Sophie Couture metallic dress is one of those pieces that is a work of art, but we also think the Met Gala red carpet would’ve been a much better foil for all the drama it oozed.
4. Vijay Varma
Darlings-fame actor Vijay Varma rocked in a Gaurav Gupta tuxedo at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Varma known for his eclectic taste in fashion, makes the all-black tuxedo stand out with a pussycat bow tie and dragonfly boutonnière. Varma‘s clean shaven look allowed him to shine in the suit and baubles, rather than be a clotheshorse. A man who can pull off a delicate boutonnière is one that we appreciate, and Varma channelled understated luxury with hint of modernism.
5. Manushi Chillar
Former Miss World Manushi Chillar walked the Cannes red carpet in a Fovari gown. The wedding couture gown took 800 hours to make where a 100 layers of Italian silk tulle were pleated by hand. The plunging sweetheart neckline is formed on a fitted corset. Manushi went with a simple middle-parted hair, nude makeup and emerald serpent neckpiece. Compared to other Indian celebrities at Cannes 2023, Chillar chose princess-like subtlety, a refreshing change from all the drama we’ve been witnessing.
6. Esha Gupta
Making her Cannes debut is actor Esha Gupta, her first Cannes red carpet foray saw her look ravishing in a Nicolas Jebran gown at the screening of Jeanne du Barry. The gown with its risqué slit and floral detailing on one side of the chest is the showstopper, which Gupta intelligently paired with minimalist makeup and subtle jewellery from Fred Paris. It was a simple and straightforward look, but we bet you can’t stop looking at the pictures. Esha channels vintage beauty and grace effortlessly.
7. Guneet Monga
Award-winning film producer, Guneet Monga wore a AMPM gold pre-stitched saree gown at Cannes red carpet. The Oscar-winning producer is at the 76th Cannes Film Festival as part of the contingent representing India at the country pavilion.
8. Masoom Minawala
A regular face at the Cannes Film Festival, fashion content creator and influencer, Masoom Minawala sashayed down the Cannes red carpet in a black gown by Marmar Halim with a white architectural collar. Never to fail you with her fashion, Minawala has been styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania for her Cannes 2023 adventure. This look is a classic, one you can never go wrong with, and Minawala flawlessly pulls off the Audrey Hepburn delicateness.
9. Urvashi Rautela
Indian model and actor, Urvashi Rautela, has already had three red carpet forays at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. This blue and gold look by Saiid Kobeisy with bold blue lips is a head-turner. Rautela wore this look for the premiere of Indiana Jones And The Dials Of Destiny. The gown with its collar-style off-shoulder and marine-inspired frock is a stunner. Of her three red carpet looks, full of poufs and ruffles, this blue look was the one we found the most aesthetic. The blue lips are getting a lot of flak on the internet but we think she pulls it off.
10. Shannon K
Daughter of legendary Indian playback singer, Kumar Sanu, Shannon K was at the premiere of Indiana Jones And The Dials Of Destiny at Cannes Film Festival. She wore a princess-style gown designed by Ukrainian couturier, Yanis Stepanenko paired with serpent-design jewellery. This look easily have been a miss for most, the net gloves and crown are an odd choice for the tulle gown but it manages to come together.