Aishwarya Rai attended the red carpet premiere of “The History of Sound” on Wednesday during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The Bollywood actress joined the likes of such attendees as Elsa Hosk, who wore a custom remake of the mesh knit gown and the archive velvet satin cape seen at Mugler‘s Cirque d’Hiver fall 1995 collection.
Rai opted for her own designer threads for the red carpet occasion. The actress styled a custom saree courtesy of designer Manish Malhotra. Malhotra recently collaborated with singer Coco Jones on her 2025 Met Gala debut custom ensemble.
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“When Aishwarya and I first spoke about Cannes, we both immediately said ‘Saree,'” designer Manish Malhotra told WWD via e-mail. “I was very sure that I wanted her to wear something handwoven, something that takes India’s textile heritage to the global stage. We gravitated toward ivory..it has a quiet power, a poetic elegance. The moment she tried the Banarasi saree, we knew it was the one.”
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Rai wore a handwoven Kadwa Banarasi handloom saree in a shade of ivory. The ornate piece was threaded with brocade motifs and real chandi (silver) zari. The ensemble also featured hints of rose gold and silver. Rai’s look was layered with a tissue dupatta, bordered in gold and silver zardozi.
To accessorize the look, Rai wore pieces of heirloom high jewelry courtesy of Manish Malhotra, as well. Pieces included over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds set in 18k gold. Accessories included a bevy of necklaces with ruby statement rings.
“When it came to jewelry, I chose rubies instead of the expected uncut diamonds or emeralds. The red offset the ivory beautifully, and the layered look felt delicate yet impactful. Aishwarya loved it the moment she tried it on,” Malhotra said.
Rai’s look was curated by styling team Allia and Nayaab. Her makeup, featuring bold brows, lined eyes and a bright red lip, was curated by artist Aditya Sharma. Rai’s hair was styled straight and worn down, with styling provided by Stephane Lancien.
Rai has been a mainstay on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for several years. The actress previously styled looks by such designers and labels as Roberto Cavalli, Armani Privé and Ashi Studio, among others.
“[Aishwarya Rai] once told me, ‘Whenever I wear a saree at Cannes, it has to be with you.’ That stayed with me,” Malhotra said. “This look is deeply special, rooted in Indian craft, styled with intent, and carried with the grace and stature that only Aishwarya can bring.”
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival concludes on Saturday. Films premiering at this year’s festival include Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme,” Julia Ducournau’s “Alpha” and Lynne Ramsay’s “Die, My Love.” Berry and Jeremy Strong, among others, serve on the 2025 jury alongside jury president Juliette Binoche.