It was not that the sartorial choices of Bollywood’s fashionable ladies at the 67th Cannes Film Festival didn’t have us impressed. But, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s delayed appearance on the red carpet was worth the wait. In a striking, Roberto Cavalli muted gold gown, she sashayed down the red carpet, silencing her critics and letting them know that she was back! The mermaid-cut, evening gown hugged the lady in all the right places and set the bar very high for her following appearances. And, she did not disappoint.
Turning the clock back in time, Aishwarya, stunned in another embellished Cavalli gown that immediately evoked the iconic image of the former Miss World winning the title in 1994. With Aishwarya set to emerge as the fashion favourite this year at Cannes, the Indian contingent’s hits and misses are easier to decipher.
Kicking off the long string of appearances by Bollywood celebrities on the Cannes red carpet was Mallika Sherawat, who chose to do prude this year. The actor, known for her propensity to shock, dialled it down a couple of notches, making her first appearance at the French Riviera in an Emillio Puci lace gown. While the gown in itself was not bad, it definitely wasn’t Cannes worthy.
She followed up the tepid appearance with a Manish Tripathi lehenga at an inauguration ceremony and a Dior leopard print dress at the Dior and Elle dinner night.
Freida Pinto, now a Hollywood darling, made her first red carpet appearance in Cannes sporting a gorgeous feathered Michael Kors nude gown. Her soft wavy hair and bold lips evoked a bygone era and the appearance was promising.
At the premiere of The Homesman , Sonam Kapoor, and Freida Pinto, vied for the top spot. Sonam, dressed in a dramatic Ellie Saab Couture gown was a vision to behold. The black, the full skirted gown helped the actor favour one of her trademark looks – old world Hollywood glamour, which she did beautifully in a faux bob and Chopard earrings.
Freida, on the other hand, picked a dramatic Oscar de la Renta gown for the premiere. Although the gown blended with the red carpet, Freida held her own, with dramatic smokey eyes, nude lips and metallic accessories.
Sonam, however, it seemed was saving the best for later. She pulled a punch in an Anamika Khanna Couture sari-inspired dress.
The quasi-traditional dress featured a sheer cape that showed-off an intricately embroidered blouse and Sonam wore the look well. A fan and friend of designer Anamika Khanna, Sonam had worn a sari-jacket featuring a long train from the designer’s couture collection, last year at Cannes as well. Sonam bags extra points for wearing an Indian-inspired dress at the film festival.
She followed it up with another Ellie Saab couture gown at her final official appearance at the French Riviera.
