Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arrives for the screening of the film "The History of Sound" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. (AFP)
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Aishwarya Rai made a striking appearance at Cannes in a Manish Malhotra saree adorned with intricate embroidery. She paired it with dazzling heirloom jewels.
The Queen of Cannes arrived and how! Aishwarya Rai attended the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 21, draped in Indian royalty. The actor wore a gorgeous ivory Banarasi sari with real chaandi work designed by Manish Malhotra for the red carpet. However, it was Aish's necklace that stole the show.
500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds
According to Manish Malhotra, Aishwarya Rai paired the ivory Banarasi drape with heirloom high jewellery from his jewellery collection. The jewels feature over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds in 18-carat gold. She wore a pair of ruby and diamond statement rings on both hands, earrings, a ruby choker necklace with a single diamond pendant, a diamond necklace, and a multiple-strand ruby necklace.
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Here's a look at Aishwarya's jewels:
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Here's a look at Aishwarya's jewels:
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The undisputed icon of Cannes
Aishwarya's ivory, rose gold, and silver Manish Malhotra saree is a visual statement that honours Indian handloom. The handwoven ivory Banarasi handloom drape features Kadwa brocade technique embroidery. Per the designer, the technique originates from the famed looms of Varanasi and involves crafting each motif separately, often using multiple shuttles and supplementary threads.
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The saree features handwoven brocade motifs and hand-embroidered zari detailing in real chandi (silver). She chose a sheer white tissue handwoven dupatta, edged with real gold and silver zardozi embroidery, to complete the look. She draped the dupatta on one shoulder and let the pallu fall from another shoulder to form a floor-sweeping train.
“The ensemble marks a deliberate departure from conventional red carpet codes, reintroducing the saree not as nostalgia, but as contemporary couture. A bold assertion from the brand, rewriting what Indian ceremonial dress can signify on the global stage,” Manish Malhotra wrote in a statement.
Lastly, with her hair left loose in a centre parting adorned with sindoor, Aishwarya chose winged eyeliner, mascara-adorned lashes, flushed cheeks, glowing highlighter, red lips, and darkened brows.
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.
