Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2026

Beauty Queens from India: Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Diana Hayden and Yukta Mookhey

Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe 1994, while Aishwarya Rai was Miss World, then in 1997 Diana Hayden (who also won multiple subtitles including Miss Photogenic) and then in 1999, the tallest of them all... Yukta Mookhey. 

Aishwarya Rai vs Zendaya: Drona premiere 2008 vs The Drama premiere 2026

Of gown and glory! Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan back in October 2008 for the Indian premiere of hubby Abhishek Bachchan's film Drona. 

Zendaya for The Drama earlier this week. 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arriving at Cannes

 

A look back at 2017. Filipino designer Michael Cinco's luxe powder blue ballgown encrusted with Swarovski crystals... After this, its been one red carpet disaster after another. It pains us to write it, as we adore Ash but the red carpet selects have brough on the question, Why does her stylist hate her? 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2025: A sartorial relief!

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2025: A sartorial relief! 

After last year's truly disastrous red carpet appearances --and I say this as a huge Ash fan--this year, was a welcome relief. Channeling vintage glamour, Indian elegance and rarefied stardom that's exclusively under the aegis of Aishwarya, all serious, hardcore fans breathed a sigh of relief. Thank GOD it wasn't a an assault like the ill-conceived and poorly executed costume fiasco of 2024/2023... 

Ash needs a stylist and designer not in awe of her galactic beauty. No matter what her shape, size, she's truly blessed/cursed with those looks. 

Aishwarya Rai in the tamil hit Jeans (1998)

Aishwarya Rai, 25, in the Tamil hit Jeans (1998)

She looked dazzling in the film but... 

Aishwarya Rai

The woman in red; the stunning Aishwarya Rai