Cannes 2026: Alia Bhatt Calls Aishwarya Rai’s Devdas Saree Look The Most Iconic Fashion Moment

As the Cannes red carpet rolls out, so do the most iconic fashion moments. And this year, Alia Bhatt seems to be ruling the prestigious film festival, either through her fashion looks or by remembering iconic moments.

The Jigra actress reflected on one of her most unforgettable Cannes Film Festival fashion moments, naming Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s appearance at the premiere of Devdas as the Cannes look that has stayed with her over the years. However, the timing of her comment is noteworthy.

Alia Bhatt praises Aishwarya’s Cannes moment

During a conversation with British Vogue, Alia shared that Aishwarya’s Devdas premiere appearance remains etched in her memory. “A Cannes look that actually goes down in my memory as absolutely iconic would have to be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Devdas premiere. The beautiful sari that she wore and just her face, it was so iconic,” Alia said.

The statement quickly resonated with fans online who praised Alia for appreciating Aishwarya’s looks. “Loved how Alia talked about Aishwarya and yes that look is iconic,” writes a fan on Instagram below Alia’s video. Another wrote, “Aishwarya fans: lashing out and hating Alia. Meanwhile Alia Bhatt 🩵.” However, there’s a catch!

Was Aishwarya Rai ignored by L’Oréal campaign

Alia’s comments come amidst the ongoing controversy about Aishwarya’s long-standing association with Cannes and her noticeable absence from this year’s L’Oréal Paris campaign visuals.

Conversations around Aishwarya intensified recently after fans noticed she was missing from L’Oréal Paris promotional displays at Hôtel Martinez, where the beauty giant usually showcases its ambassadors during Cannes. Her absence from the posters, alongside Alia Bhatt’s prominent inclusion, sparked chatter across social media.

Many fans questioned why Aishwarya, who has represented the brand at Cannes for over two decades, was not featured in the campaign visuals. Responding to fan comments online, L’Oréal Paris described Aishwarya as “a living legend” and reassured admirers by writing, “Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses.”

Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes debut

Aishwarya first attended Cannes in 2002 for the screening of Devdas alongside Shah Rukh Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The appearance marked a landmark moment for Indian cinema at the international festival and continues to be remembered as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated Cannes outings.

The following year, Aishwarya officially joined L’Oréal Paris as a global ambassador and went on to become one of the festival’s most recognisable Indian faces. Since 2003, she has appeared at Cannes almost every year, earning a devoted fan following for her dramatic gowns and serving iconic red carpet looks.

Alia and Aishwarya’s Upcoming projects

On the professional front, Alia Bhatt is preparing for the release of her upcoming spy thriller Alpha. She is also filming Love & War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which is expected to release in 2027.

Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in Ponniyin Selvan: II and has not yet officially disclosed her next project.