Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bollywood’s eternal red carpet queen, set the 78th Cannes Film Festival ablaze on May 22, 2025, with her second appearance, this time for the premiere of La Venue de L’avenir. Draped in a custom Gaurav Gupta black gown paired with a handwoven Banarasi brocade cape inscribed with a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita, Aishwarya blended spiritual depth with high fashion. Her Day 2 look sparked global buzz, amplified by a dramatic moment with Helen Mirren and a viral throwback tweet from Abhishek Bachchan. Representing L’Oréal Paris, Aishwarya’s appearance was a cultural milestone, celebrating Indian heritage on the world stage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of her fashion, viral moments, and why this look is iconic, curated by Chai and Churan!
The Outfit: Gaurav Gupta’s Cosmic Couture
Aishwarya’s second Cannes 2025 look was a custom Gaurav Gupta Couture creation titled “Heiress of Clam,” reimagined from his Across the Flame Paris Couture Collection. The off-shoulder black velvet gown featured a body-hugging silhouette, hand-embroidered with silver, gold, charcoal, and black motifs resembling a cosmic galaxy. Accented with micro-glass crystals, the gown shimmered under Cannes’ lights, capturing “dimension and light,” as Gupta shared on Instagram. The Hindu called it a “sculptural masterpiece,” blending futuristic elegance with Indian artistry.
The showstopper was the handwoven Banarasi brocade cape, crafted by artisans in Varanasi. In silver or champagne-gold (sources vary), it cascaded into a dramatic train, inscribed with the Bhagavad Gita shloka: “Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana…” Translated, it means, “You have a right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits of those actions. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.” The Economic Times noted its “spiritual depth,” making it a powerful nod to Indian philosophy. Styled by Allia Al Rufai, the cape was a pre-constructed shawl-like piece, trailing elegantly, per News18.
Aishwarya accessorized minimally with drop earrings, floral diamond rings, and her signature inverted V wedding ring, skipping a heavy necklace to let the cape shine. India Today praised her shift to side-parted, soft beachy waves from her usual sleek hairdo, paired with bold red lipstick, dramatic eye makeup, and a dewy glow, evoking vintage Hollywood glam. X posts raved, “Aishwarya’s cape is a cultural flex!” (@Cineholic_india).
Viral Moment #1: Helen Mirren’s Cape Mishap
Aishwarya’s red carpet walk was nearly derailed when Helen Mirren, walking nearby, accidentally stepped on her cape’s trailing train during the La Venue de L’avenir premiere. Videos captured Aishwarya gracefully recovering, with Mirren offering a quick apology, narrowly avoiding a wardrobe malfunction. Pinkvilla dubbed it a “heart-stopping moment,” while X posts like “Aish handled it like a queen” (@HTLifeStyle) praised her poise. The incident, caught on global livestreams, added drama to her already iconic appearance, with India Forums noting it “only amplified her spotlight.” Fans on X shared clips, calling it “Cannes’ most memeable moment” (@abhidp5).
Viral Moment #2: Abhishek Bachchan’s Throwback Tweet
Adding to the buzz, a 2014 tweet from Abhishek Bachchan resurfaced, where he praised Aishwarya’s Cannes look in a golden Roberto Cavalli gown, tweeting, “How stunning does my wife look!” Moneycontrol reported fans rediscovering this post, which went viral with over 10,000 retweets by May 23, 2025, fueling nostalgia. X users shared screenshots, with comments like “Abhishek’s still her biggest fan” (@isabellchen), amid ongoing divorce rumors that Aishwarya’s sindoor in her Day 1 look had already quashed. The tweet’s timing, alongside her Day 2 triumph, sparked emotional reactions, with News18 noting it “added a romantic layer to her Cannes narrative.”
Viral Moment #3: Aaradhya’s Adorable Support
Aishwarya was joined by her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, who twinned in a simple black outfit (a top and leggings, per India Forums). Viral videos showed Aaradhya holding her mother’s hand, helping her navigate the red carpet’s stairs in the voluminous cape. ANI News called it a “heartwarming mother-daughter moment,” with clips amassing millions of views. X posts gushed, “Aaradhya’s so cute, supporting her mom!” (@NELiveTV). Aishwarya’s namaste pose, a signature gesture, drew applause, with India.com noting it as a “proud Indian touch.”
Fashion and Cultural Impact
Aishwarya’s Day 2 look was a stark contrast to her Day 1 Manish Malhotra Kadwa Banarasi saree, which celebrated Indian textile heritage with ivory, rose gold, and 500-carat ruby jewellery. The Gaurav Gupta ensemble leaned into modern couture with spiritual symbolism, aligning with Cannes’ updated red carpet guidelines, per Free Press Journal. The Bhagavad Gita shloka, hand-embroidered by over 15 artisans (Mid-Day), made it a “cultural statement,” per Republic World. Gupta himself described Aishwarya as “timeless, intentional, and radiant,” noting her ability to “transform” the garment.
The look resonated globally, with Times Now reporting fans calling it a “tribute to India’s soul” (@timesnownews). It followed her Day 1 saree, which sparked sindoor discussions, reinforcing her role as a global ambassador for Indian culture. Rozana Spokesman emphasized the shloka’s message of duty over reward, aligning with Aishwarya’s poised persona. Her choice to pair cosmic embroidery with a Banarasi cape reflected a Make in India ethos, earning praise from Indian Express for “winning the fashion game” alongside Janhvi Kapoor’s Cannes looks.
Cannes Context and Bollywood Presence
Aishwarya’s appearance for L’Oréal Paris’ Lights, Beauty, Action campaign and the La Venue de L’avenir screening was part of a strong Indian contingent at Cannes 2025. The Economic Times highlighted Payal Kapadia’s jury role, Sharmila Tagore’s restored Aranyer Din Ratri premiere, and Janhvi Kapoor’s Homebound debut. Aishwarya’s candid interactions with Cannes officials, captured in a viral News18 video, showcased her warmth, further endearing her to fans. X posts like “Aishwarya’s grace is unmatched” (@latestly) underscored her veteran status in her 23rd Cannes year.
Why This Look Matters
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Day 2 Cannes 2025 look was a triumph of Indian heritage meets global couture. The Gaurav Gupta gown and shloka-embroidered cape fused spirituality, artistry, and modernity, making a bold statement about India’s cultural depth. The Helen Mirren mishap, Abhishek’s viral tweet, and Aaradhya’s support added layers of drama and heart, ensuring Aishwarya dominated headlines. As Bollywood Life put it, she “set the red carpet on fire,” proving why she’s the OG Cannes queen.
Which moment from Aishwarya’s Day 2 stole your heart? The shloka cape, the Mirren mishap, or the Abhishek tweet? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and watch Chai and Churan’s video feature below for every viral detail!