The Cannes Film Festival 2026 has officially begun, but even before the red carpet rolled out, the festival was already making headlines for an unexpected reason. This year, the buzz started after fans noticed something unusual in L’Oréal Paris’ Cannes campaign — the absence of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
For more than two decades, Aishwarya has remained one of the most recognisable faces associated with Cannes and L’Oréal Paris. Which is exactly why fans were left shocked after the beauty giant unveiled giant ambassador banners outside Hotel Martinez in Cannes without featuring the Bollywood actor.
And the internet did not stay quiet for long.
Fans question Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s absence from L’Oréal Cannes campaign
Ahead of the festival, L’Oréal Paris shared visuals from Hotel Martinez — often considered the beauty brand’s Cannes headquarters during the event — featuring several global ambassadors. Among the stars included in the campaign was Alia Bhatt, who continues to represent India internationally as a Gucci ambassador and rising global fashion face.
But fans quickly pointed out that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, arguably the most iconic Indian celebrity linked to Cannes over the years, was nowhere to be seen.
The comments section instantly turned into a debate.
“Where’s the mother of Cannes, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?” one fan wrote. Another user commented, “Aishwarya Rai made L’Oréal famous across Asia. How can you not feature her?”
Some fans even compared the actor’s legacy at Cannes to that of newer ambassadors, insisting that Aishwarya’s connection to the festival remains unmatched even today.
L’Oréal responds, but fans remain unconvinced
As the criticism continued to grow online, one fan directly tagged L’Oréal Paris and asked why Aishwarya had not been included in the campaign visuals, despite being one of the brand’s longest-standing ambassadors.
In response, the official account replied, “Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses.”
While the message appeared to reassure fans that Aishwarya would still attend the festival, it only triggered more questions online.
“Then where is her poster?” another user asked, while others accused the brand of overlooking the actor’s contribution to its popularity in India and across Asia.
The conversation quickly spread across fan pages and entertainment accounts, turning Aishwarya’s absence into one of Cannes 2026’s earliest viral moments.
Why Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes legacy matters
For many Indian audiences, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Cannes have become almost inseparable over the years.
The actor first attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2002 for the premiere of Devdas alongside Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. At the time, the film’s screening marked a major global moment for Indian cinema.
In 2003, Aishwarya officially walked the Cannes red carpet as a L’Oréal Paris ambassador — beginning a partnership that would eventually become one of the longest-running celebrity-brand associations linked to the festival.
Over the years, the actor delivered several iconic Cannes moments, from traditional sarees and dramatic couture gowns to bold beauty choices that dominated international headlines. Her purple lipstick look in 2016 alone became one of the most discussed beauty moments in Cannes history.
More importantly, Aishwarya helped establish a stronger global presence for Bollywood celebrities at international fashion and film events long before it became common for Indian actors to represent luxury brands globally.
Which is why, for many fans, her absence from the latest campaign visuals felt impossible to ignore.
Now, as Cannes 2026 officially unfolds, all eyes are once again on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and whether the actor will silence the conversation with yet another unforgettable red-carpet appearance.
