Aishwarya Rai Bachchan graced the red carpet at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for a second consecutive day, attending the premiere of “La Venue de l’Avenir” (Colours Of Time) on May 22, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. For this appearance, the Bollywood icon chose a striking custom creation by designer Gaurav Gupta.

The ensemble, aptly titled “Heiress of a Clam,” featured an old Hollywood-inspired black velvet bodycon gown. According to Gupta, the gown was meticulously “hand-embroidered with an abstract rendition of the cosmos in bursts of silver, gold, charcoal, and black, accented with micro glass crystals to capture dimension and light.” This intricate beadwork elegantly lined the sides of the dress, adding a celestial sparkle to her look.

A breathtaking ivory Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in the historic Indian city of Varanasi, enveloped the actress. This special fabric was further distinguished by an inscribed Sanskrit shloka, adding a layer of cultural richness to the contemporary design.

Rai Bachchan’s styling remained classic and sophisticated. Her hair was styled in elegant side-parted waves. She once again opted for her signature red lipstick, a choice she also made the previous day when she wore a crisp white Manish Malhotra sari, which notably also featured Banarasi silk. Complementing the metallic hues of her gown’s beadwork, she accessorized with delicate drop earrings and floral diamond rings, completing her glamorous red carpet statement.