It's a universal truth that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shares a special bond with May, the month that marks her annual sashay down one of the most highly-touted red carpets in the world. Delivering surprises and showstopper moments each time, May is her month to lay rest to the tried-and-tested template of classics and see where the day takes her. From conversation-starting lilac lip colours to frosty Disney princess gowns, everything's fair game in her sartorial rulebook. With another edition of Cannes waiting to unfold alongside the charming locale of the French Riviera, we are dialling the clock back to her fashion evolution at Cannes Film Festival over the years.
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Tracing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's sartorial evolution at Cannes
The former Miss World first rubbed shoulders with Hollywood's finest at Cannes when she made her debut in 2002, and opted for a Neeta Lulla sari in a statement yellow to mark the occasion. She looked to the designer again next year, and took to the red carpet in a lehenga with a pink bustier followed by another sari in a striking shade of neon green that wouldn't have looked out of place on spring/summer runways. After opting for a risqué cut-out gown from the designer the following year, her fashion mood board looked westwards for inspiration, eventually finding a winner in a svelte Gucci gown with a plunging neckline for her walk down the red carpet in 2005.
Having hit her stride, Rai Bachchan delivered a showstopper moment at the 2006 edition of the film festival in a strapless Elie Saab number with a bejewelled serpentine neckpiece slinking its way around her neck. After tying the knot amidst much fanfare in April 2007, a glowing Rai Bachchan lit up the French Riviera in an elegant Giorgio Armani gown, which she wore on the red carpet alongside husband Abhishek Bachchan. She loved the look enough to reprise it the next summer with another strapless number from the couturier, before pulling a bait-and-switch from the classic neutral palette to the loud-and-proud fuchsia hues of a sweeping Roberto Cavalli gown.
Come 2009, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan gave ivories her vote of approval with a form-fitting Cavalli gown that swept gracefully behind in a ruffled train. The next year marked her return to Indian designers, as she made her appearance in an embellished Sabyasachi sari. The year will also be remembered as the beginning of her love affair with Elie Saab, with a muted lavender number claiming love at first sight for the star. She turned to the Lebanese designer again in 2012, her first post-baby Cannes appearance, and her next walk for the festival had her standing out in Gucci.
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2014 served as a landmark year for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who returned to Cavalli once again. That gilded number was made to be worn with siren red lips and superstar waves, and the actor didn't disappoint. Following on the heels of the red carpet success, she indulged her experimental side with a dramatic Ralph & Russo number next year and another lacy Elie Saab gown, offsetting the emerald green lace with a deep marsala lip colour. And while the internet-breaking lilac pout and floral gown serve as the lasting legacy of her 2016 stint on the red carpet, the star managed to work in her own flavour of classic romanticism in a delicate Elie Saab number and old-Hollywood waves.
By 2017, the actor had clocked in 15 years of appearances at the annual film festival, but proved that she hasn't run out of steam just yet with a voluminous Cinderella-esque gown from Dubai-based couturier, Michael Cinco. Before anyone quite had a chance to catch their breath, she strolled down the red carpet in a full-skirted Ralph & Russo creation with Boomerang-approved tiered ruffles.
Last year, Rai Bachchan looked to Cinco to help her deliver another showstopper moment, and boldly strode out of her comfort zone by choosing a butterfly-patterned gown with an embellished train that cut a clear path through the swarm of stars, paparazzi and film folk at the event. Ivory may not necessarily be a novel choice in her Cannes repertoire, but she made the second look her own by teaming the structured Rami Kadi gown with a Samurai-esque top knot.
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Can't wait to see what Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has up her sleeve for 2019? Until we get a first glimpse, scroll through our gallery below to follow her style evolution at Cannes over the years.
Also read:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan takes a break from gowns for a pantsuit at Cannes
Deepika Padukone's best red carpet style moments at Cannes Film Festival
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Cannes gown featured the most beautiful train
