Every year, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turns heads at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, and 2026 was no different. From dramatic couture silhouettes to regal red-carpet moments, the actor once again ensured all eyes stayed on her. But while many praised her bold fashion choices, a section of social media users criticised her looks, triggering fresh debate online.

Amid the trolling, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut publicly came out in support of Aishwarya and strongly defended her individuality and confidence.

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Kangana Ranaut Shuts Down Critics

Reacting to the criticism surrounding Aishwarya’s Cannes appearances, Kangana shared a strongly-worded message on Instagram Stories.

She wrote, “Fashion and style is a self expression. It is one’s own interpretation of life and their attitude. No woman owes anything to anyone. Ash looks great! Those of you who want to see her any other way, why don’t you show what you got?” 

The actor further added, “She is not here to please you. She is glorious. If you are not used to seeing older women on red carpets, get used to them now. Thanks.”

Her remarks quickly gained traction online, with many users applauding her for calling out ageism and unrealistic beauty expectations often directed at women in the entertainment industry.

Aishwarya’s Striking Cannes 2026 Fashion Parade

A longtime global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, Aishwarya once again represented the beauty giant at Cannes with a series of glamorous appearances. For one of her major red-carpet outings, she wore a sculpted royal blue couture ensemble titled Luminara by designer Amit Aggarwal.

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The futuristic outfit revolved around the idea of “light in motion” and featured intricate structural craftsmanship that blended movement and elegance. She paired the dramatic look with a shimmering dupatta, diamond jewellery adorned with blue stones, soft curls, rosy-toned makeup, and her signature bold red lips.

Later, the actor switched to a dreamy pastel pink gown designed by Sophie Couture for the “Lights On Women’s Worth” event. The ensemble featured delicate floral embellishments and a flowing cape, adding a soft romantic touch to her appearance.

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Celebrities including Eva Longoria, Ariana Greenblatt and Amy Jackson were also present at the event. For the grand closing ceremony of the festival’s 79th edition, Aishwarya embraced classic drama in a layered white tuxedo-inspired outfit featuring feather detailing, a feather boa, and voluminous curls.

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Aaradhya Bachchan’s Red-Carpet Debut Steals Attention

Apart from Aishwarya’s style statements, it was her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan who became one of the festival’s biggest talking points. Aaradhya made her official red-carpet debut alongside her mother during a glamorous Cannes event on Friday evening. Dressed in a ruby-red gown complemented by a matching cape, the young starlet instantly drew attention online.

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Though Aaradhya has accompanied Aishwarya to Cannes since childhood, this marked the first occasion where she formally walked the red carpet and posed before photographers beside her mother.