India's association with the Cannes Film Festival has long been symbolized by one constant visual: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walking the red carpet for L'Oreal Paris. Since becoming the global ambassador for the beauty brand in 2004, the actress has been one of the most recognized Indian faces at Cannes, attending the festival more than 20 times. However, ahead of this year's edition, fans were left confused and disappointed after the actress was noticeably absent from the brand's latest promotional campaign.
Fans Question Absence of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from Cannes Video
On May 10, L'Oreal Paris shared a promotional video on Instagram featuring the iconic Hôtel Martinez dressed up for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. The video showed giant posters of actresses associated with the brand being unfurled from the hotel terrace. Among those featured were Alia Bhatt, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, and Helen Mirren. The caption read, "And... action! The most iconic façade in Cannes is getting its festival look. @martinezhotel is officially dressed in L'Oréal Paris." What immediately caught the attention of Indian fans, however, was the absence of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Soon after the video was posted, social media users flooded the comments section asking the brand why the actress was not featured in the campaign. One user commented, "Everyone in the comments are asking for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. New faces may come but you can't replace the OG Aishwarya." Another wrote, "Where is Aishwarya's poster?" A separate comment read, "What happened L'Oréal? Did you forget the way she raised your brand in India?" Several fans also claimed that the Cannes campaign felt incomplete without the actress, who has long been referred to as the "Queen of Cannes" by her admirers.
Alia Bhatt Featured in Campaign Amid Fan Backlash
While many fans celebrated Alia Bhatt being featured in the international campaign, others questioned whether the brand was shifting focus away from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Alia, who recently joined L'Oreal Paris as a global ambassador, was prominently featured in the campaign video. Some users even argued that the brand should not have prioritized newer ambassadors over Aishwarya, considering her decades-long association with both the company and the film festival. As of now, the brand has not issued any statement addressing the backlash or the actress's absence from the promotional material.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Cannes: A Long-Standing Association
Over the years, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has become one of the biggest Indian attractions at the Cannes Film Festival. From her dramatic gowns to experimental beauty looks, the actress has consistently grabbed global attention with her appearances at the prestigious film festival. Her Cannes outings have often sparked major conversations online, with fans eagerly waiting every year to see her red carpet look. Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt arrived at the French Riviera on Sunday morning and was spotted at the airport in an all-black outfit. It is still unclear whether she will attend the opening ceremony of the festival scheduled for May 12.
