"She is not here to please you": Kangana Ranaut shuts down critics of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Cannes looks
Mumbai, May 25
Actor Kangana Ranaut has come out to show support for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who recently turned heads at the Cannes Film Festival 2026.
In a strong-worded Instagram story, Kangana showed great admiration for Aishwarya.
Calling out the critics, the 'Queen' star wrote, "Fashion and style is a self-expression, it is one's own interpretation of life and their attitude, no woman owes anything to anyone, Ash looks great!! Those of you who want to see her any other way, why don't you show what you got?? She is not here to please you, she is glorious, if you are not used to seeing older women on red carpets, get used to them now. Thanks."
Along with her message, Kangana also shared a picture from Aishwarya Rai's Day 1 look, when she opted for Amit Aggarwal's custom sculptural gown.
Aishwarya Rai made her much-awaited return to Cannes with a stunning appearance on the red carpet. For the first day, she chose a gorgeous Amit Aggarwal ensemble.
For this year's appearance, Amit Aggarwal designed Luminara, a couture creation centred around the idea of light in motion.
Structured wing-like extensions emerging from the shoulders evoke movement and propulsion, while contouring the body with architectural sharpness. Rendered in an abyss blue, the couture piece references cosmic depth and the infinite nature of light travelling through space.
For L'Oreal Paris' annual "Lights On Women's Worth" gala, Aishwarya chose a romantic blush pink ensemble by Sophie Couture.
Appearing on the French Riviera, the Cannes veteran embraced soft glamour in a custom baby pink gown featuring a heart-shaped fitted silk silhouette paired with a flowing chiffon cape and embellished floral detailing.
The couture creation featured a strapless corseted bodice crafted with delicate Fortuny pleating and asymmetrical ruching designed to accentuate the waistline. Swarovski-crystal floral applique in shades of rose gold, copper and deep mauve cascaded elegantly from the bodice to the hips, adding texture and dimension to the pastel-toned outfit.
The dramatic gown was completed with a heavily draped satin-silk crepe skirt and a sheer floor-length chiffon cape that extended into a soft trailing train, creating a sweeping red-carpet effect.
In another standout moment, Aishwarya made a striking appearance in a bold white ensemble that blended contemporary tailoring with classic Hollywood elegance.
Departing from conventional red carpet gowns, Aishwarya opted for an avant-garde white pantsuit featuring a structured plunging blazer paired with sharply tailored trousers. The monochrome look was elevated with intricate embellishments running along the sides of the outfit, adding texture and detail to the sleek silhouette.
The defining element of the ensemble was a dramatic feathered cape that framed her shoulders before flowing into a sweeping train.
This year marks Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 24th appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, reinforcing her enduring association with the international event and beauty brand L'Oreal Paris.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I respect Kangana's sentiment but she herself has been trolled plenty for her own fashion choices. Also, Aishwarya looked lovely but that architectural blue Amit Aggarwal gown was a bit too experimental for my taste. The white pantsuit though? Absolutely stunning! Honestly, India needs to learn to celebrate our icons instead of tearing them down. 🤷♂️
Finally someone said it! The way people comment on women's appearances as if they're commodities is so exhausting. Aishwarya looked regal in all three outfits. That pink one with the cape was giving old Hollywood vibes. And can we talk about how she's been the face of L'Oreal for over two decades? That's no small feat. Kangana may be controversial but she's right on this one. 💯
I'm a bit conflicted here. While I agree with the overall message about not body-shaming or age-shaming, I think criticism of fashion choices is fair game. Aishwarya has had some truly iconic Cannes moments in the past. This year's looks were good but not her best. The pantsuit was the strongest of the three. But let's be real - the internet trolling of her appearance was way over the line. There's a difference between constructive feedback and straight-up nastiness.
"She is not here to please you" - that line deserves a standing ovation! 👸 The way society expects women, especially actresses, to look a certain way is ridiculous. Aishwarya looked absolutely ethereal. That blush pink gown with the flowing cape was giving major Bridgerton vibes. And 24 years at Cannes? That's legacy right there. Kangana might have her opinions on other things but her support for fellow women in the industry is something I can get behind. ❤️
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