Aishwarya Rai to Kangana Ranaut: Indian beauties who charmed the Cannes red carpet in a saree

Aishwarya Rai debuted at Cannes in the year 2002 for the premiere of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial 'Devdas'. She wore a mustard yellow saree designed by Neeta Lulla and teamed the look with gold jewellery and kept her tresses open. 
 

The six-yard long drape has since then remained Aishwarya’s favourite choice. In the year 2010, the actress wore Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s sheer embroidered saree and complimented the look with smokey eyes, a shimmering bindi and a middle part back bun. Her husband Abhishek Bacchan also walked the red carpet with her that year dressed in a classic black suit. 
 

Back in 2010, a very young Deepika Padukone walked the 63rd edition of the Cannes red carpet, dressed in designer Rohit Bal’s ivory and golden saree. Deepika’s plunging sleeveless blouse and gold jewels accentuated her look. A sleek bun completed her look.
 

Sonam Kapoor’s first appearance at the French Riviera in 2013 was a fusion ensemble from designer Anamika Khanna. Vintage-inspired golden and white saree layered with a jacket and the look was completed with a big nose ring.

Sonam again chose to wear an Anamika Khanna designed saree for her 2014 Cannes red carpet look. She draped herself in a salmon pink cape-style sheer gown embroidered sari and anchored it with a matching blouse and a statement choker. 
 

Kangana’s love for traditional drapes is well-known. She represented India twice at the annual Cannes Festival and both times, she chose to take Indian fashion with her. Kangana’s 2018 look was retro-inspired. She rocked the red carpet in a black sequenced saree with a matching sleeveless blouse by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, finished it with a vintage hairdo, choker neckpiece and carried a potli bag. 
 

In 2019, Ranaut stunned everyone at the French Riviera in a golden Kanjeevaram silk saree with a strapless blouse from label Madhurya and styled it with a custom corset belt by designer pair Falguni and Shane Peacock and a wine-red coloured opera velvet hand gloves.  
 

Vidya Balan and sarees are synonyms to each other. The actress had always draped a sari for any big occasion and Cannes couldn't be an exception. For all her red carpet looks, Vidya picked sarees designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee and gave us some unforgettable fashion statements. In 2013, Vidya made her first appearance in the French Riviera town as jury member in an olive green silk saree with a burgundy full-sleeved blouse, finished with a classic back bun, kohl-lined eyes and ornate jewellery and a bindi. 
 

Vidya’s second look was a red tulle saree which she styled with a long sleeve red blouse and matched with a pearl necklace, wristwatch and a purse. 
 

Diana Penty in 2019 too opted for a saree gown from couturier Amit Aggarwal. Her entire look remained in white and she anchored it with a pearl necklace and earrings and braided her hair back in a bun. She rounded up her look with a bold red lip shade. 
 

Indian actor, director and writer Nandita Das graced the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. For the curtain raiser of her film, Manto. Das opted for a golden zari saree by a Mumbai-based designer Anavila Misra. Das complimented her look with ethnic jhumkas (danglers) and tied her hair in a bun. Her look is a sheer example of elegance and grace.
 

Yesteryear Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore was invited to the 62nd Cannes festival as a Jury member in 2009. As elegant and classy as always, Tagore picked a light flowy floral printed yellow chiffon sari for the Cannes Jury photocall. She teamed her look with a pearls neck set and open hair. Meanwhile, for the night premiere of the film 'Up', Sharmila wore a silk green sari with a light red border and finished the look with complimenting ethnic jewellery.
 

Bengali actress Paoli Dam was the only Indian celebrity to walk the 64th Cannes red carpet in 2011. She was joined by Sri Lankan filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara who directed the Bengali film Chhatrak (which means Mushrooms). 

Paoli’s look stood out at the fest as she opted for a traditional Bengali attire. She wore a cream Dhakai sari with a red border and kept her long tresses open. She completed the look with a red bindi and a dozen red bangles on one arm.