Cannes 2026: The Indian Stars, the Sarees and the Designers Behind Them

The 79th Cannes Film Festival ran from 12 to 23 May 2026, and the most talked-about Indian looks of the fortnight were sarees. Alia Bhatt wore custom Tarun Tahiliani twice, first an ivory corseted saree-gown at the Bharat Pavilion and then a couture saree the label called "corseted chinoiserie"; Huma Qureshi wore a purple-and-gold Banarasi by Shanti Banaras; Aditi Rao Hydari wore two sarees by JADE by Monica and Karishma, one sheer and sequinned, one in champagne silk tissue; Diana Penty wore a custom gold knit saree by Manish Malhotra; and Prajakta Mali walked in a Maharashtrian nauvari. Below is who wore what and who made it, each look credited to the outlet that reported it, followed by the details that kept coming back: corsetry, metallic tissue, Banarasi weaves and sheer drapes.

A note before we start: we are a small handmade label in Jaipur, and none of these women wore our clothes. Where our pieces appear further down, it is only because a detail from the red carpet matches what that piece already is.

The Saree Looks, One by One

Alia Bhatt, Bharat Pavilion (13 May). Attending as a global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris, Alia's Indian moment came at the Bharat Pavilion, India's official pavilion at the festival. Pinkvilla reported on 13 May that her custom Tarun Tahiliani look joined a soft sculpted corset to a draped ivory Chanderi dhoti skirt, using hand-woven silk tissue in burnished gold and ivory. The Free Press Journal described a corset-style bodice, pleated fabric over one shoulder "like a classic pallu" flowing into a train, and floral bead embroidery. It was styled by Rhea Kapoor with a nath, a haathphool and, per Pinkvilla, earrings borrowed from her mother. Alia's own caption: "feeling unapologetically filmy." Strictly, it was a saree-gown hybrid.

Alia Bhatt, "corseted chinoiserie" (reported 14 May). Her second Tarun Tahiliani look was a full couture saree. The label's description, carried by NewKerala and Asianet Newsable on 14 May, reads: "corseted chinoiserie – a custom Tarun Tahiliani couture saree that brings together the romance of Victorian dressing and the fluid elegance of Indian drape traditions." Reports describe a corset-inspired silhouette, sculpted draping, woven panels, subtle embroidery and a sweeping train, drawn from archival chintz florals. Rhea Kapoor styled it with Sunita Shekhawat polki and a lace fan. Outlets disagree about which event it was worn to, so we have left that out.

Huma Qureshi, Shanti Banaras (reported 16 May). Arguably the most traditional saree of the festival. The Free Press Journal (16 May) described a regal purple Banarasi with gold brocade work and palm-tree motifs, which WION called Riviera-inspired, worn with a gold silk brocade blouse and Amrapali Jewels polki; ETV Bharat called the colour a "muted mauve". Huma's caption: "From the ghats of Banaras to the French Riviera. There's something incredibly special about wearing a weave that feels like it has lived through time."

Aditi Rao Hydari, JADE by Monica and Karishma (reported 16 May). Bollywood Hungama (16 May) reported a bespoke sheer champagne-gold saree with gold leaf and sequin embroidery, a structured metallic gold sleeveless blouse with a sweetheart neckline, and an antique gold choker with emerald drops from Indriya Jewels, styled by Sanam Ratansi. Her caption: "Wearing a saree… the traditional way. Revolutionary, I know."

Aditi Rao Hydari, the Chaarbagh saree. A second JADE saree, which Storyboard18 (20 May) described as a "custom champagne silk tissue Chaarbagh saree" with "archival block prints" inspired by Mughal gardens. NewsBytes added that it carried four different block-print designs and subtle metallic kasab embroidery.

Diana Penty, Manish Malhotra (reported 18 May). At the Bharat Pavilion, a custom golden knit saree with metallic texture, sculpted puff sleeves, a plunging neckline and an ivory embellished pallu, per Storyboard18 and The News Mill (18 May). She called it "Cannes dipped in a little Indian gold", adding that "in India, gold has always meant more than just colour." Later the same day she changed into a red Amit Aggarwal couture look.

Prajakta Mali and the Marathi delegation (reported 18 May). The Free Press Journal reported that Prajakta Mali walked the red carpet in a light blue nauvari with a Maharashtrian nath, chandrakor bindi and kamarpatta, alongside Ashok Saraf and Nivedita Saraf. Credits for Prajakta's nauvari differ between reports: Punekar News (28 May) credited Thane-based Nirupa's Yeola Paithani & Silk Sarees, whose owner Nirupa Tayade said, "An Indian saree is not merely a fashion statement but an identity of culture and tradition." Local Samosa credited a different label, Modo Caldo, for her red-carpet look, so she may have worn more than one outfit.

Beyond the Saree: Gowns, and the Same Corset Thread

Not every Indian look was a drape. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, on what Gulf News counted as her 24th appearance at the festival, wore a sapphire-blue mermaid gown by Amit Aggarwal titled "Luminara" and a custom blush-pink Sophie Couture gown with a "structured corseted silhouette" and a chiffon cape, according to Gulf News (23 May). Tara Sutaria wore Vivienne Westwood's pearl-white "Bridal Galaxy" corset gown (Local Samosa, 19 May). Aditi Rao Hydari also wore a neon metallic green Tony Ward Couture gown (Desiblitz, 18 May). The corset, in other words, ran through the gowns and the sarees alike. In a saree, it simply became the blouse.

Why the Saree Had Its Moment

The credits named Indian makers. Most of the coverage named the label behind each saree: Tarun Tahiliani, Shanti Banaras, JADE, Manish Malhotra, and, in one report on Prajakta Mali's nauvari, a Paithani business in Thane. The Hans India wrote that these appearances "not only highlighted Indian craftsmanship but also showcased how traditional fashion can seamlessly blend with global luxury aesthetics."

The cloth had a hometown. Huma's caption was about Banaras, Diana's about what gold means in India, and Aditi's second saree was about Mughal gardens and block printing.

Regional drapes made it on. A nauvari on the Cannes red carpet, worn with a kamarpatta and a Maharashtrian nath, shows the saree being treated as many dresses, not one. ETV Bharat's 18 May headline said three Indian stars had "reminded the world that nothing rivals the grace of a saree".

The saree was allowed to change shape. Alia's two looks put a corset into the drape, and Diana's was knitted. A drape is now something a designer can rebuild, the same idea behind the pre-draped saree trend. For an earlier chapter of Indian film and fashion, see our vintage Bollywood fashion history.

Four Details That Kept Coming Back, and How They Wear Off the Red Carpet

None of what follows is a copy of anyone's outfit. These are the recurring details, and how each shows up in handmade pieces you can actually order.

1. Metallic tissue and gold

On the carpet: Diana's gold, Aditi's champagne silk tissue, and the burnished gold and ivory tissue in Alia's Bharat Pavilion look.

Off it: tissue gives you the glow without the weight. The Zohra saree (₹39,550) is soft tissue with a shimmer that catches the light, its borders hand-embroidered in mirror work, cutdana, sequins and zardozi in floral bel patterns taken from vintage heirloom textiles. The Taraana saree (₹51,800) is antique gold tissue embroidered entirely in vibrant resham, with floral and paisley vines along the borders and pallu, scattered bootis across the body and a thin line of sequins at the edge. Our tissue saree brands guide covers where else to look.

2. The structured, corseted bodice

On the carpet: both of Alia's Tarun Tahiliani looks, Aditi's structured sweetheart-neck blouse, Aishwarya's corseted Sophie Couture gown and Tara Sutaria's Vivienne Westwood.

Off it: you don't need boning to get the line; you need a blouse cut to hold its shape. The Haseena blouse (₹15,475) is soft ivory silk in a classic halter silhouette with a structured fit, the neckline hand-embroidered in mirror work, cutdana, sequins and zardozi; the Zohra saree's own description suggests pairing the two. The Veda & Tishya set (₹18,500) is a yellow silk bustier with a sweetheart neckline and noodle straps, hand-embroidered in gold zari, resham and beadwork, with an open-front silver-grey silk cape worked in gold marodi and zari; wear it over a saree for a sharper silhouette. Both are made to your measurements, which is what makes a fitted bodice look right. More in our corset blouse trend guide.

3. The Banarasi weave

On the carpet: Huma Qureshi's Shanti Banaras saree, with its gold brocade work.

Off it: a handwoven Banarasi does the talking for you. The Phalgun & Myra saree (₹27,500) is yellow Banarasi silk with floral motifs woven in silver thread and a rich lace border, with an ivory blouse embroidered in florals and sequins. The Zariya saree (₹22,595) is a soft mint green Banarasi with diagonal bands of sequins and gota in antique gold tones and a fine pink selvedge; its blouse is not included. To be clear about our part: we don't weave. We buy handwoven cloth and our karigars embroider it by hand in our Jaipur atelier, so weave and colour vary a little from piece to piece. For the weavers themselves, see our Banarasi saree brands guide.

4. Sheer, light drapes

On the carpet: Aditi's sheer champagne saree, light enough to show its sequins and gold leaf.

Off it: organza holds a crisp line but still moves. The Shanvi saree (₹38,675) is soft ivory organza with a hand-embroidered border running the full length, florals and vines in marodi, gold zari, resham and beadwork in coral and gold, with tassels at the pallu corners and small butis across the body. If you want the drape without a saree, the Rang, Sasha & Tasha set (₹19,250) pairs a sheer black organza cape embroidered with multicolour floral vines in sequins and cutdana, a black silk blouse with angled pleats, and a georgette draped skirt ruched at the waist. See also our organza saree brands guide, or browse all our sarees.

One thing we can't offer: there is no nauvari in our range. If a regional drape is what you are after, our Bollywood-inspired outfits guide is a broader starting point.

Ordering, Honestly

Everything above is made to order in Jaipur: 4–5 weeks to make, plus 3–7 days of shipping, cut to your measurements at no extra charge. Ordered now, at the end of October 2026, a piece reaches you around the first week of December at the earliest, so it will not make Diwali on 8 November or anything else in November, but it is comfortably in time for December to February weddings. Express is sometimes possible, depending on the piece and the month, so ask us on WhatsApp. Want a neckline or sleeve changed? Design changes aren't automatic; ask us on WhatsApp what is possible on that design. Shipping is free on domestic orders above ₹30,000, which a saree with a blouse, Zohra with Haseena for instance (₹55,025), will cross.

More from the 2026 runways and red carpets: Indian designers in Paris, 2026 · The corset blouse trend · Pre-draped sarees

Sources: festival dates, Festival de Cannes and UPI (June 2025); Alia Bhatt, Pinkvilla and The Free Press Journal (13 May 2026), NewKerala and Asianet Newsable (14 May 2026); Huma Qureshi, The Free Press Journal and WION (16 May 2026), ETV Bharat (18 May 2026); Aditi Rao Hydari, Bollywood Hungama (16 May 2026), Desiblitz (18 May 2026), Storyboard18 (20 May 2026), NewsBytes; Diana Penty, Storyboard18 and The News Mill (18 May 2026); Prajakta Mali, The Free Press Journal (18 May 2026), Local Samosa (19 May 2026), Punekar News (28 May 2026); Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Gulf News (23 May 2026); Tara Sutaria, Local Samosa (19 May 2026); The Hans India (May 2026).

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