‘And they say Bella Hadid nailed it': Janhvi Kapoor wears custom Tarun Tahiliani and ‘kala nazar dhaga' to Cannes; Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arrives with Aaradhya

Indian Express

21-05-2025

From Janhvi Kapoor floating down the red carpet like she was in a dream sequence, to Ruchi Gujjar casually wearing Prime Minister Modi on her necklace, Indians didn't just show up at Cannes yesterday—we made sure nobody could look away.
There were some jaw-dropping looks, and some hilarious blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments (hello, mystery black band on Janhvi's wrist). Whether you were there for the couture or just came for the memes, Cannes moments truly delivered last night.
Let's break down the good, the glam, and the gloriously unhinged moments from the Indians on the red carpet.
A post shared by Rhea Kapoor (@rheakapoor)
For the official premiere of her film Homebound today, Janhvi wore custom Anamika Khanna couture along with a mix of archival traditional Indian jewels, with custom jade and jadao creations.
A voluminous sea-green skirt accentuated the gold bodice of Janhvi's outfit.
A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)
The day before, the actor made her grand debut in a soft pink outfit by Tarun Tahiliani and styled by Rhea Kapoor. The outfit looked like a cross between a lehenga and a gown. The fabric was real Banarasi tissue, and it had a crinkled, hand-crushed texture that made it look almost like wearable silk origami.
The corset was structured, the skirt had serious volume, and a flowing drape swept across her head like a modern ghoonghat. Pearls, rosy cheeks, a floral garland, and a classic winged liner pulled the whole look together.
But of course, this is the Internet—nobody is safe. One eagle-eyed fan zoomed in on her wrist and cracked, 'Bro forgot to take off hair band from hand.' It might've been a kala nazar thread, but who's checking?
Janhvi wasn't alone—her Homebound crew was right beside her. Ishaan Khatter ditched the usual black suit for a wine-coloured velvet number by Gaurav Gupta. The embroidery was minimal, the pants were roomy, and the vibe was very cool cousin at a wedding.
Director Neeraj Ghaywan was seen helping Janhvi with her outfit on the carpet—brownie points for that. Meanwhile, Karan Johar rolled in with a ruffled white coat from Manish Malhotra and giant black trousers. Basically, drama on top and party at the bottom.
Aditi Rao Hydari wore Rahul Mishra, channelling her signature calm, floaty angel energy. And get this: it took 2,600 hours to make. We repeat—2,600 human hours. That's longer than some relationships last.
According to the designer, the gown shifted from black to ivory and was inspired by cosmic energy. It had embroidery, resham threads, sequins, bugle beads—everything.
Now for the wild card: Ruchi Gujjar. You might not have heard of her before, but she ensured you'd never forget her after Cannes.
A post shared by Ruchi Gujjar (@ruchigujjarofficial)
Wearing a bold gold lehenga, Ruchi paired it with a necklace featuring tiny lotuses hanging from the neck, each stamped with a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When asked why, she told News18: 'It's not just jewellery. It's a tribute to his leadership and India's rise.'
As expected, the Internet could not keep calm. Some top comments included: 'Missed call from Rajmata Meloni 💀' and 'I've never laughed as much as I did looking at dis.'
Earlier in the day, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also landed in France to attend the film festival, with daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. The actor was sporting a laidback look, dressed in a blue overcoat, simple white tee and black oversized pants. We can't wait to see her look at Cannes! She's given some of her best (also, not-so-best) appearances on the carpet.