Festival de Cannes 2022 : Iconic Indians' spellbinding style moments

There are film festivals, and then there's Cannes. Far away from the snowy streets of Park City and the bustling city of Toronto, indeed, it is the most glamorous ode to cinema in the world. This year's 75th iteration featured a tribute to Tom Cruise with the prestigious Palme d'Or at the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. The official poster for the festival was designed as homage to The Truman Show (1998).

The festival has returned to its full spectator capacity after the last two editions as a precaution on the COVID-19 restrictions in France. The highly anticipated festival showcased the finest in international cinema, highlighting the talents of actors, directors, and film crews from around the globe. The Cannes red carpet 2022 has featured a slew of famous faces and their unique fashion sense, from midday photocalls to gala premieres.

As in years past, stars dialed up the glamour on the red carpet. This year, the Indian contingent came out in large numbers. Here, check out the best looks, from debut jury member Deepika Padukone to other veteran members and Cannes regulars who joined this year included the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui amongst others. 

Special nod to Indian heritage as a jury member

After her many appearances as L’Oreal Brand ambassador at Cannes, Deepika Padukone entered the prestigious list of jury members this year. She gave a special nod to her Indian roots as she donned a custom Sabyasachi sari on the red carpet. Inspired by the Bengal tiger, the embellished sari represented the stripes in shades of black and gold.

Indian jewellers know a thing or two about creating a jewellery moment and Sabyasachi did precisely that with Deepika Padukone, one of this year’s festival jurors. She wore cascading, multi-gem chandelier earrings by the designer with a matching headband that was an art nouveau twist on a matha patti, the traditional headpiece worn by Indian brides.

Deepika walked the red carpet in the printed Louis Vuitton gown with a dramatic oversized statement sleeve on the ninth day of the Cannes film festival. Well, she sported a light green coloured outfit with pink roses and green coloured leaves all over her dress with matched boots on the streets of Cannes.

For the next look, she opts for a couture house known for its architectural designs—Ashi Studio. Padukone's orange gown is getting so much admiration, especially for the blends of fabric into a sculpted piece that doesn't shy away from making a statement. The outfit is custom, and appears to be a moderation of a look from Ashi Studio's Spring 2022 couture collection.

The new-concept Venus & the other delegates from Indian film Industry

Veteran member of the film festival and one of the most famous Indians at Cannes, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made headlines as she walked the red carpet in a custom Dolce & Gabbana gown. Her pink Valentino monochrome look–straight from the Fall 22/23 runway has become one of the most riveting power dress moments from the actor. On May 18, she attended the screening of "Top Gun: Maverick."

The actress chose a pink sculptured custom Gaurav Gupta Couture look to offset the red carpet in Cannes. Gaurav Gupta describes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Cannes 2022 red carpet ensemble as 'The Birth of Venus.' The gown connotes her timeless charm and strong grace, effortlessly.

A cinematic heavy lifter and veteran member of the Cannes Film Festival, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui made his presence on the red carpet and many other delegates from the film Industry. Sporting a classic tuxedo, Siddiqui was a remarkable representative of the Indian film industry at the global stage.

Aditi Rao Hydari accompanied her sheer and flowy black Sabyasachi dress with a perfect bronzed face. Interestingly, her nude pink lips are mirrored in the pale pink headscarf tied in a classic 60's fashion on her head, recapitulating the collective power of when fashion assembles beauty. Similarly, we love the addition of a small bindi situated at the focal point on the forehead–it is not only a nod to Indian culture but also an elegant finishing touch.

Indian novices at Cannes

Attending the Tom Cruise starrer Topgun–Maverick red-carpet preview, actress Pooja Hegde made her Cannes debut in a dramatic feather gown. She entered the many Indian delegates representing Indian culture, cinema, and fashion at the International gala. 

Actor Urvashi Rautela made her Cannes debut as she came at the film Final Cut’ premiere. The statement sleeves adorned her white ruffled gown from Tony Ward Couture. The gown cinched at the waist and featured a multi-layered tulle.

Joining the Indian delegation at the Cannes Film Festival, actor Tamannaah Bhatia made her debut. Sighted in a Gauri & Nainika gown, Bhatia created high octane style in the body-hugging ensemble. The black and white duchess satin of the gown came with a plunging neckline and detailed trail that elevated the look.

Since her debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, actor Hina Khan has served some memorable fashion moments. For the poster launch of her upcoming Indo-English film, ‘Country of Blind,’ Khan was seen in a custom Rami Al Ali dress posing near the French Riviera.

Fashion Influencers making the nation proud

For her sixth red carpet appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, global influencer Diipa Khosla wore a custom Manish Malhotra-designed sari. She marked this appearance with a strong message about authentic beauty. Earlier in the day, Khosla took to Instagram to share the allergic response her face had suffered and took a stance toward normalizing beauty and said, "I know every woman that reads this has been where I am now. Feeling ugly, wanting to hide, and forget about it all. But we don't do that anymore. We inspire each other to face the music even when we wish not to. For we are beautiful. With or without that allergy, pimple, acne, pigmentation, scar, or whatever it may be. Lets do this. For us. All of us."

Among the slew of South Asian representations at the Cannes Film Festival, fashion influencer Rahi Chadda made his appearance at the event wearing a Maison Valentino black romantic suit. The first South Asian male ambassador to the House of Dior, Chadda joined celebrities at the opening night of the ceremony and was a part of the exclusive event by Dior beauty. Previously Chadda graced the event as Chopard's ambassador in 2018.

This year, reputed Fashion and lifestyle influencer Masoom Minawala marked her second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. Among the first Indian content creators and female entrepreneurs to join Cannes, Minawala has remained a significant representative of the Indian fashion industry on the global stage. She wore a custom Amit Aggarwal outfit representing the rich craftsmanship of Indian couture.

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