Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once again became the center of a heated debate on beauty standards and gender double standards after her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026. The 52-year-old actor and former Miss World was subjected to body shaming and trolling on social media, prompting strong reactions from fellow celebrities and experts.
The Controversy
When Aishwarya made her red carpet appearance in a sculpted blue gown by Amit Aggarwal, her photographs and videos quickly went viral. However, instead of admiration, the conversation turned to her weight and appearance. Journalist Mrinal Pande, a Padma Shri winner known for her feminist writing, commented on X: 'The natural beauty has diminished this time. The cheeks appear somewhat more puffed up.' This sparked a huge debate online.
When questioned, Pande defended her remarks, stating that celebrities are judged by different metrics. 'Sorry lady, she has been promoted the world over as an iconic beauty and a brand ambassador since 1994 when she won the beauty contest. Any dimming of that aura will be naturally pointed out using the same criteria the beauty pageant industry has set,' she wrote. Later, some of her more critical posts were removed.
Defense from Industry Peers
Actor Kangana Ranaut was among the first from the film industry to school the trolls. In an Instagram post, she 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.'
Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya's co-star in 'Devdas,' also came to her defense. 'She (Aishwarya) has been going there for 20 years. She has done the whole country proud. She is a global star. As a Miss World, she has done so much for the country. You cannot reduce her to a number on a scale or a number on the dress or the size or a number on the calendar years. You cannot reduce her to that. She is beautiful. She looks beautiful but she is beautiful inside,' Madhuri told PTI.
Madhuri further emphasized the harmful message such trolling sends to young people: 'I think people have to realise that when you make these kinds of comments, what kind of message are you sending to the youngsters today? That your worth is on how you look, not on your achievements. I think this is a completely wrong message being sent.'
Expert Analysis
Clinical psychologist Shweta Sharma explained that the criticism about Aishwarya's looks reflects society's rigid perception of beauty. 'It happened before also when she gained weight after the delivery. Aishwarya has always existed in the minds of Indian women or I would say globally as a beauty icon, as a Miss World, as a symbol of perfection. But the problem is that our idea of a beauty icon itself has become deeply corrupted by rigid societal standards,' Sharma told PTI.
'We admire her for her beauty, but at the same time, we never understand or we deny that they always have a right to age naturally, they can gain weight, they can change physically or simply look human, which she accepts as a celebrity, definitely with grace,' she added.
Sharma pointed out the gender double standard: 'The conversation (when it comes to women) quickly shifts towards their appearance, their weight, their wrinkles, or whether they still fit the image society created for them years ago. So that difference clearly reflects a gender-based double standard, which is very prominent in this industry.' She noted that men are allowed to age naturally and continue playing romantic leads, but women are not granted the same grace.
Aishwarya's Cannes Legacy
Aishwarya first appeared at Cannes in 2002 when 'Devdas' was screened. The following year, she became a brand ambassador for L'Oreal and has been a regular ever since. She was also the first Indian actor to serve on the festival jury. Many Indians view her presence at Cannes as India's representation, regardless of whether an Indian film is in competition. In 2016, her choice of purple lipstick sparked intense debate.
Broader Implications
Sharma expressed concern that even educated women participate in such criticism, indicating how deeply beauty norms are internalized. 'Education is not going to help unless we are not able to break that conditioning, which constantly tells women that their worth lies in maintaining a certain appearance and a body image. I feel this conversation is important because it shows how uncomfortable society still is with the natural relation of a woman's body and identity,' she said.
Unlike Hollywood, where actors like Meryl Streep have roles written for them, mainstream Hindi cinema largely marginalizes women after a certain age. However, this is gradually changing with actors like Shefali Shah and Madhuri Dixit finding lead roles in OTT platforms. Shah, for instance, once regretted playing Akshay Kumar's mother despite being younger than him in 'Waqt' (2005). Since then, she has chosen roles in offbeat movies and OTT shows, while Dixit is earning praise for her performance in 'Maa Behen.'
