Special Feature: A look back at Bollywood women at Cannes 2018
With the curtains coming down on this year’s Cannes Film Festival, this weekend, BizAsiaLive.com takes a look back at some of the Red Carpet memories featuring our Bollywood women including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Mahira Khan, Kangna Ranaut and Huma Qureshi.
BizAsiaLive.com reporters Sahar Junejo, Yasmin Shabir and Priyanka Borua have collectively put their thoughts together on how each of the actresses came across in their Cannes 2018 outing.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
By Priyanka Borua
For her 17th appearance at Cannes, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stepped out of her comfort zone. All her appearances saw her in vivacious colors, be it her colorful gowns or even colorful makeup. Although, her most precious pairing was with daughter Aaradhya, who twirled with her mom to the red carpet.
For her first red carpet appearance, Bachchan wore a dreamy Michael Cinco butterfly gown. The butterfly emerged in shades of red, blue, and violet in a ten foot long train. Bachchan paired her heavily embellished gown with matching violent earrings and bright lips.
Bachchan’s second red carpet appearance boasted of timeless elegance in a mint colored Ram Kadi gown. While her first appearance opened up a sphere of imagination, Bachchan’s second gown brought everyone back to earth, to stare into her kohl-brimmed eyes. Her hair was put into a creative up-do, perhaps an ode to origami.
As the brand ambassador of Loreal Paris, Bachchan was also seen in appearances associated with the brand. She was seen as a true boss lady in an Armani pantsuit on her first day at Cannes, and in Loreal videos in a Manish Arora sequined coral, blue, and mint summery dress, and again, in a Manish Arora jacket with suit separates.
Deepika Padukone
By Sahar Junejo
After a relatively safe appearance in a classic red gown at the Met Gala, Deepika Padukone pulled all the stops during her time at Cannes. From the breezy Monique Lhuillier dress, the fun and flirty Philosophy ensemble, to the sexy power suit by Mao, she carried off a variety of diverse looks in the three days she was there.
Her first red carpet appearance in the stunning sheer Zuhair Murad bridal gown styled with diamonds from Lorraine Schwartz made Padukone look like an old-Hollywood starlet.
The following day, she walked the red carpet in a very editorial Ashi Studio dress – a stark difference from the classic glamour of the Zuhair Murad. Love or hate her choices, there’s no denying that Padukone’s Cannes looks have left a lasting impression.
Kangna Ranaut
By Priyanka Borua
Kangna Ranaut is certainly everyone’s ‘Queen’, and she surely made the international audience aware of her presence, in her debut appearance at the prestigious festival, representing the brand Grey Goose. She may have been present on the red carpet for only two appearances, but her fashion choices throughout her interviews, meals, and even shopping trips are on every starry eyed girl’s list.
Ranaut was all things retro on her first day at Cannes, where she made an appearance at the India Pavilion speaking to Prasoon Joshi, the chief of the Indian Censor Board. Ranaut oozed sophistication and old world charm, wearing a stunning Sabyasachi sequined ‘Aakash -Tara’ sari, paired with a Sabyasachi ‘Teenmaniya’ necklace from his Heritage collection and a matching batua. Sabyasachi’s collection was last seen at Cannes on Vidya Balan in 2013.
For her debut red carpet appearance, Rananut wore an alluring, sheer Zuhair Murad gown. The heavy embellished gown did all the talking as Ranaut wore no accessories, only accentuating her features with minimal makeup and a curly up-do.
Sequins were surely on Ranaut’s mind as her second red carpet appearance saw her in a Nedo by Nedret Taciroglu jumpsuit. An embroidered and sparkly silver number, Ranaut wore this jumpsuit like a boss, confident and ready to take over the world. Her curls and makeup were dramatic, yet simple enough, to not clash with this take-over-your lens outfit.
Ranaut was out and about at the French Riviera seen in distinctly different outfits throughout her few days in Cannes. She was casually seen in a faux leather red Nanushka dress, walking out of the Burberry store in a peppy Elisabetta Franchi baby blue dress, and even pictured on the streets in Trussardi.
Huma Qureshi
By Yasmin Shabir
It was a first for the ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ (2014) actress Huma Qureshi, who made her Cannes Film Festival début this year. For many it can be an overwhelming time what with the world’s eyes on you but for Qureshi she managed to strut her style in great fashion.
The credit for all her looks would have to go to Mohit Rai for managing to piece together some extraordinary outfits by some big names.
The first day at Cannes saw Qureshi in an elegant white outfit by Varun Bahl. It was a sleeveless gown which had lace detail around the top and was flowy at the bottom. As the gown was sleeveless she had a detailed lace cape she wore which beautifully draped around her shoulders.
Her hair and make up was done by Manjari Singh who gave her bold red lips and made her eyes stand out with black kohl. Her hair was sleeked back into a neat bun giving her a fresh look and to add some glamour she wore a pair of stunning gold earrings by Suhani Pittie.
At the Wildlife after party Qureshi was seen wearing a pastel, pink coloured gown by Paula Ka. The gown seemed to have layers to it with a corset like top and a thick silk belt to go around her waist. From the waist down it was a flowy skirt that gave a summery feel. On top of her gown she wore a long white, loose fitted jacket which gave her sweet look some definition. For accessories she wore dangly earrings with a matching style necklace.
For her hair Qureshi decided to push it back but leave it down, in a side parting. For her make up she wore a dark red on her lips with more emphasis being put on her eyes with a dark eye shadow.
Her red carpet look saw her in a beige coloured suit which had a metallic, mirror border around the edges. Nikhil Thampi came up with this unique design which saw Qureshi try something different rather than going for a traditional dress or a gown. The blazer was the right length as it went below her waist and was paired with wide leg trousers.
For her accessories she wore a Piaget necklace and suited the sleek, pushed back hair look which is left down. It was an unusual choice but looking at Qureshi the look seemed to suit her. However saying that it still lacked excitement because for a red carpet look one expects to see glamour but this suit failed in that aspect.
At an evening event Qureshi chose a dazzling gold Manish Malhotra gown which she pieced together with a cream Drome jacket. She went for a combination of Mele and Marie and Outhouse Jewellery for her accessories. She was given bold red lips and had her hair down with a middle parting. It seems a shame because this look could have been even better but with the lack of experimentation with her hair and the jacket it seems like a waste of a beautiful gown.
For a morning event Qureshi was seen in a red Alexander Arutyunov dress. It was a one piece dress that had balloon sleeves with a high thigh slit on one side.
She opted for some colourful heels by Pierre Hardy that tied around the ankle. Focusing on her lips she wore a bright red colour to match her red dress and had light brown on her eyes. Her accessories consisted of earrings and a long multi layered necklace with red jewels.
At the Chopard segment of the Cannes film festival, Qureshi stunned in a custom made Falguni Shane Peacock suit. The suit consisted of wide leg trousers matched with a blazer which had a long cape attached to it like a trail. Not only was it beautiful but it was a very unique outfit which Qureshi pulled off no doubt. From the cape to the actual outfit everything sparkled as it was embellished in diamonds.
Her hair was left open and pushed to one side and the make up was spot on. Manjari Singh got it right with those bright red lips and gold shimmer on her eyes to add some more drama.
For the screening of ‘Manto’ (2018) Qureshi was seen wearing a dusty pink, Ali Younes Couture gown. The gown was stunning as it had some beautiful white embroidery covering it from top to bottom. For accessories Qureshi went for Outhouse jewellery to add more sparkle to her look.
Qureshi had a wet hair look which she left down in a neat side parting. Her make up was kept minimal which perhaps would have been better had she experimented with her make up more, overall it was a safe look.
At the Fashion For Relief charity night Qureshi was dressed in Elio Abou Fayssal. This particular look could be described as quirky because out of all the ones she has worn this one was quite daring. The v neck, silk satin crepe dress tried to hide a little and reveal a little with the long thigh slit. With the dress came the oversized grey, jacket which was embroidered in Swarovski crystals, beads and sequins.
Qureshi’s jewellery was just as spectacular with her Swarovski necklace and earrings by Outhouse jewellery, it wasn’t a heavy look in terms of accessories but it was enough to complete her look. For footwear she wore some heeled shoes by Alexandre Birman and for her make up it was kept very simple with pink lips and some detail to her eyes. Marcos Verissimo created a messy hair do which surprisingly suited Qureshi really well.
For the interview segment Qureshi had a 70’s look about her outfit. She was seen in a red and white striped outfit by Mother Of Pearl which was styled with some interesting accessories by Misho Designs. As her outfit was bold her make up was kept minimal with light eye liner and red on her lips to match her outfit. Her hair was sleeked back and put up into a high columned ponytail using gold hair ties.
For her first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival Qureshi did pretty well at experimenting with her looks. She showed that she isn’t afraid to try something different and she rocked every look with confidence.
Mahira Khan
By Sahar Junejo
As the only Pakistani actress attending Cannes this year, all eyes were on Mahira Khan and she did not disappoint. The actress looked glamorous on the red carpet in a classic black Alberta Feretti gown with a red lip and Chopard diamonds. Off the red carpet, Khan successfully represented Pakistani designers on the international podium, looking stunning in a sari by Menahel and Mehreen, an Elan outfit perfect for the French Riviera, and chic separates by Zara Shahjahan. She also mixed things up with ensembles from international designers while still staying true to her fresh aesthetic by incorporating pastels (Maison Yeya lavender dress, Ermanno Scervino blue suit) and florals (Blumarine dress, Leonard Paris pajama outfit).
Khan brought drama to Cannes as well, in a one-shoulder sequinned gown by Nicolas Jebran. While the styling for Khan was not too out of the box, what elevated each of her looks was the infectious joy and excitement of being a part of the Cannes Film Festival 2018.
Mallika Sherawat
By Priyanka Borua
Mallika Sherawat made her thirteenth appearance at Cannes this year. She teamed up with ‘Free a Girl India”, a NGO that “fights against human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children”. Sherawat’s colors of choice for most of her appearances this year were pastels, stylized with minimal accessories.
For her first appearance, Sherawat wore a beautiful high neck, semi-sheer lavender Tony Ward gown adorned with soft feathers, and accessorized with Piaget drop earrings. With hair tied into a low ponytail, Sherawat’s makeup was left minimal with pale pink lips and a sun-kissed glow, that rivaled the French Riviera’s sun.
In her second appearance at Cannes, Sherawat gave us all princess vibes, as she walked the red carpet in a baby pink YOLANCRIS Couture gown, patterned with light gray flowers and polka dots. While her hair was left voluminously wavy, you could spot her glamorous Messika Paris chandelier earrings a mile away.
Sherawat was also photographed at the docks in a one shouldered, fuchsia Wendell Rodricks summery dress with a sari like trail, and classic Valentino pumps.
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja
By Yasmin Shabir
Many had been awaiting the moment Sonam Kapoor Ahuja would make her appearance at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.. At the previous festival she had fashion lovers begging for more with her inventive style. Every look Kapoor Ahuja wore at the Cannes Film Festival was styled by none other than her sister Rhea Kapoor and Deep Kailey.
Her arrival at the festival saw her in a loose, long sleeved polka dot, shirt dress by Mother of Pearl. One could describe her look as almost vintage what with the black and white polka dot scarf tied around her neck.
She wore black boots by the renowned brand Chloe and to add some glamour a pair of square shaped sun glasses by Victoria Beckham. She also carried a black, quilted design bag by Bottega Veneta and for jewellery she wore small white studs.
When Kapoor Ahuja stepped onto the red carpet she left everyone in awe. As always she prefers to have a bit of her culture thrown into her look and this was the case with her red carpet look. she looked like a royal princess in her Ralph & Russo extravagant, cream gown. If one was to look closely they would be able to see the intricate work that has been done using sequins, beads as well as gold thread. She wore earrings by Chopard and had her hair braided into a long plait by Stephane Lancien. The plait was adorned with a paranda ornament beautifully crafted by Amprapali Jewels.
Namrata Soni kept Kapoor Ahuja’s make up simple with pink lips and concentrating heavily on her eyes to make them stand out with black kohl. After having recently got married her wedding henna could still be seen which actually complimented her look really well.
At the auction dinner for NGO Positive Planet with Jacques Attali, Kapoor Ahuja went for a vintage/summery look with Delpozo’s design.
The dress was a light mint colour with a red, white and turquoise coloured flower pattern decorating the dress from the waist downwards. Her shoulders were draped in a transparent mint fabric which was attached to the dress cleverly like a cape but tied at the back.
As for jewellery she kept it to a minimum as there was so much going on with her outfit, she wore emerald green earrings by de Grisogono jewels.
To go with her outfit she carried a red clutch by the designer Jimmy Choo which matched perfectly with her red heels by Charlotte Olympia. With this look her make up was bolder with bright red lips to match her accessories and gold eye shadow on her eyes. The make up was just right as it didn’t over take her look but still made an impact. Her hair had a neat look, this time left out with a middle parting finishing the look perfectly.
The third look was casual but one Kapoor Ahuja pulled off without effort. Dressed in Simone Rocha, Bhane and Sergio Rossi she showed that she can do glamour as well as casual. She wore an oversized white shirt accompanied with denim jeans and some interestingly, studded shoes.
Her hair was tied up into a clean bun with a few strands at the sides to give a casual feel. Again not over doing it she stuck with some medium sized gold hoops to add some shine to her look.
Focusing heavily on her lips this time a plum red was used on her lips to add some drama. Her eyes had some black eye liner on the top eyelid with a hint of mascara to make her eyes striking.
Kapoor Ahuja’s fourth look had her in a red and white striped, shirt dress by Emilia Wickstead. She looked elegant and cool at the same time. She wore black shoes which had a chunky heel and were adorned at the front with a sparkly flower by Sophia Webster. She completed her look with some pearl studs and some Bottega Veneta branded shades which added some edge to the look.
With this look she let her style do the talking and kept her make up very simple with light pink lips and her hair sleeked back into a low ponytail.
For the grand finale she appeared in a Vera Wang gown which stole the show. It was a beige coloured strapless gown, which for the top half was a corset giving Kapoor Ahuja an hour glass figure. From the waist down it was a multi layered beige skirt with a layer of bright yellow and at the back were ruffles of material to create a beautiful flower.
To match this extraordinary creation she wore sparkling, heart shaped earrings by Chopard and shoes by Ralph & Russo. Namrata Soni added a bright yellow, almost a lemon shade to half of Kapoor Ahuja’s eyelids with a light brown shade. Her lips were a pinky red to add colour but not so much that it would overpower the rest of her look. As for her hair Stephane Lancien styled it into a low bun with a few wavy strands to create a princess look.
As always it was a delight to see Kapoor Ahuja attend the Cannes Film Festival and show the world that Bollywood is no less when it comes to good style and taste.
