At Cannes 2025, the red carpet was more than a cinematic prelude—it was a revelation. A dazzling theatre of fashion, identity, and global influence, this year’s edition saw Indian and Middle Eastern personalities not just attending but owning the Croisette. Their presence transformed the red carpet into a celebration of cultural pride, storytelling through style, and unapologetic self-expression.
Embodying timeless Indian elegance, Aditi Rao Hydari glided down the red carpet in a vivid red saree that recalled the golden age of Indian cinema. Her subtle touch of ek chutki sindoor became an instant cultural moment—graceful, nostalgic, and powerfully rooted in tradition. A portrait of poise, she reminded the world that elegance lies not only in the silhouette, but in the story it carries.
From Saudi Arabia, beauty entrepreneur and rising fashion star Yara Alnamlah captivated in a feather-trimmed crepe kaftan by Rami Kadi, her ensemble a whisper of restraint and regal femininity. Adorned with Chaumet jewellery, her look brought refined calm to the frenetic glamour of Cannes, an ode to minimalism with Middle Eastern soul.
Making an electrifying debut, Alia Bhatt faced a city-wide blackout with her signature composure, stepping onto the carpet in a custom Gucci sari styled by Rhea Kapoor. The look, a rich amalgam of Indian heritage and Italian luxury, effortlessly bridged continents—a sartorial metaphor for the global woman.
Farhana Bodi, the Dubai-based fashion magnate, stunned in two couture moments—first in a shimmering silver ensemble from Atelier Zuhra, and then in a red-beaded hooded gown by Ali Karoui. Her looks were unapologetically extravagant, emblematic of the region’s love for bold silhouettes and fierce femininity.
Cannes royalty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returned in breathtaking fashion, wearing a dramatic black Gaurav Gupta creation with a cape inscribed with a shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. Merging couture with spirituality, she transformed the red carpet into a canvas of cultural storytelling—where faith met fashion.
Saudi-Australian supermodel Shanina Shaik brought a sultry sophistication in a crimson Zuhair Murad gown, fusing Hollywood glamour with her Middle Eastern roots, while Sobhita Dhulipala delivered a futuristic masterstroke in a structured purple cape-jumpsuit by Namrata Joshipura, her look a symphony of shimmer and sharpness.
Nancy Tyagi, a Delhi-based influencer, won hearts in a self-stitched 20kg pink ruffled gown that took 30 days to create. Her debut was a red carpet fairytale—the triumph of talent, patience, and sheer ambition over privilege or pedigree.
In the men’s corner, Ishaan Khatter turned heads in an embroidered ivory Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla sherwani-inspired jacket paired with contemporary tailoring. Balancing tradition and trend, he brought a fresh take to menswear, proving that South Asian style needn’t dim its roots to shine on global platforms. Lebanese actor and producer Nicolas Mouawad also made an impression in a sharply tailored black-on-black tuxedo with satin lapels, subtle yet striking, a lesson in masculine elegance.
Palestinian-Dutch model Mohammed Sultan Al Habtoor was a vision of pan-Arab pride in a modern take on the kandura, paired with a crisp white blazer—showcasing how tradition and innovation can co-exist beautifully. His look was a quiet rebellion against red carpet conformity.
Equally impressive was the Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama, who brought suave charisma in a velvet tuxedo from Elie Saab Homme, the deep burgundy shade adding a regal flair to the formal wear lineup.
Diala Makki, Lebanese-Syrian television host and style icon, proved that modesty can be mesmerizing in a blush-toned Rami Al Ali jumpsuit—its structured lines and soft hues merging classic tailoring with feminine grace.
Together, these icons—actors, influencers, models, and visionaries—did not just wear couture; they embodied their cultures, their ambitions, and their journeys. In an era where visibility is power, they chose to be bold, rooted, and radiant.
Cannes 2025 was not merely a fashion moment. It was a cultural crescendo. For the Middle East and South Asia, it marked an ascension—a collective arrival on a platform that once felt distant. From sari pleats and kaftans to sherwanis and sequins, they brought the language of legacy into the modern global conversation.
