Cover Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looking stunning in Gaurav Gupta couture (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looking stunning in Gaurav Gupta couture (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
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Gaurav Gupta discusses Aishwarya Rai’s ‘galactic sculpture’ Cannes look featuring Sanskrit embroidery and handwoven Banarasi cape
Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reminded the world why she is hailed as the “Queen of Cannes” with her appearance at the La Venue De L’avenir premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Wearing a custom creation by designer Gaurav Gupta, the look was “still, structured and intentionally quiet” and a departure from past dramatic ensembles, according to the Gupta himself.
Speaking to Tatler, Gupta shares his insights into the vision behind Rai’s ensemble, a black velvet corset column gown with a sweeping Banarasi brocade cape.
Above Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Gaurav Gupta at Cannes Film Festival (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Gaurav Gupta at Cannes Film Festival (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
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Gupta says, “The look we created for Aishwarya is a galactic sculpture — quiet, controlled and luminous. It’s a custom interpretation of our Heiress of Clam silhouette from the Across the Flame collection we showed during Paris Couture Week 2025.”
The goal was not to create noise, but “to create atmosphere”. Gupta describes the embroidery on the gown as “an abstract rendition of the cosmos — constellations, light bursts meteors — rendered in silver, gold and charcoal threadwork, with micro glass crystals” noting it was “cosmic, but restrained”. The design, he said, was built around Rai’s ability to carry “time and stillness so gracefully”.
Above Aishwarya Rai Bachchan x Gaurav Gupta couture (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan x Gaurav Gupta couture (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
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Offering fashion enthusiasts a look at unexpected details, Gupta highlighted the Banarasi brocade cape, which was handwoven in Varanasi, India. Embroidered into the back of the cape was a deeply personal Sanskrit shloka (verse) from the Bhagavad Gita. The shloka reads: “कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन।” which means, “You have a right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits of those actions”. Gupta emphasised this was “not just decoration — it’s intention”. He added that the cape grounds the look in heritage, creating an exciting contrast with the gown’s galactic form.
Also read: The visionary designs of Gaurav Gupta
Above Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look in this custom Gaurav Gupta creation is being hailed as a fashion comeback by many (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look in this custom Gaurav Gupta creation is being hailed as a fashion comeback by many (Photo: courtesy of Gaurav Gupta Couture)
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Comparing this look to her previous viral Birth of Venus moment at Cannes in 2022—which was part of the Gaurav Gupta couture collection from that year—Gupta drew a clear distinction. While the 2022 look was “cinematic — dramatic, fluid and full of movement, this year’s creation is the opposite, it’s intentionally quiet”. He hopes this ensemble will lead people to see Rai “in a new light — not just as a beauty icon, but as a monument”, describing it as “the kind of look that speaks softly, but stays with you”.
The ensemble has been widely celebrated as a major Cannes comeback moment for Rai, who delivered elegance without excess, like a queen.
Suchetana Mukhopadhyay is the Digital Content Manager for Tatler Hong Kong. In this role, she leads all digital editorial and branded content on Tatler Hong Kong’s website, from brainstorming story ideas with the writers to editing and publishing the articles, and from managing the overall content flow to driving search engine optimisation. She also leads the beauty content at Tatler Hong Kong and across the region, and is always looking to champion diversity through her articles. She was previously with Cedar Hong Kong and Gafencu, and freelanced for the South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia-Pacific, CNN and more. Contact her here.
