Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes Film Festival: A princess oozing confidence

In her 16th year on the Cannes red carpet, Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a dress straight out of fairytales. Designers hail it as ‘dramatic’, ‘adventurous’ and ‘a fresh take on fashion’.

At the 70th Cannes Film Festival, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walked the red carpet with fairytale-inspired glamour. In a powder blue gown by Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco, the 43-year-old served up a big dose of sartorial drama, styled by Aastha Sharma and Rean Moradian. From Cinderella to Frozen’s Elsa, a number of fairytale characters appeared to have been channelled by Ash, according to comparisons drawn by social network users.

From Cinderella to Frozen’s Elsa, a number of fairytale characters appeared to have been channelled by actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, according to comparisons drawn by social network users. (AFP/Valery Hache)

Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses as she arrives for the screening of the film Okja, at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. (AFP/Alberto PIZZOLI)

For designers, the look was a complete triumph. Designer Manish Malhotra puts it succinctly: “She looks spectacular! It’s different, an absolute fresh take on fashion.” For designer Ritu Beri, the actor’s confidence makes the look a winner. “It’s dramatic, adventurous and only Aishwarya can carry it superbly. She looks amazing, and it’s a great pick for a place like Cannes, where you can risk being dramatic,” she says.

For designer Nikhil Mehra, it’s all about the finishing touches. “This look is quite something — she looks beautiful, the colour is perfect for summer, as is the hair and makeup,” he says.

Designer Anupama Dayal sums it up: “She basically looks like a fairytale princess, and encapsulates the fantastical mood of the moment. There’s a form of enchantment attached to the look.”