Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Cannes fashion choices, Monali Sarkar notes, have come a long way from her debut in 2002.
2002
From photo call to red carpet, Aishwarya Rai went all out desi for her debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002.
She was there with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shah Rukh Khan for the premiere of Devdas, perhaps the first masala Bollywood film to be selected for screening at the famed festival.
The crowds adored her, but not her Neeta Lulla-designed sari.
She was there with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shah Rukh Khan for the premiere of Devdas, perhaps the first masala Bollywood film to be selected for screening at the famed festival.
The crowds adored her, but not her Neeta Lulla-designed sari.
2003
Miss World 1994 returned to the festival the following year as a jury member -- one with a string of regrettable sartorial choices designed by Neeta Lulla.
2004
Ash scored a hattrick this year in returning to the festival as a L'Oreal global ambassador, but neither her red carpet look -- once again designed by Neeta Lulla -- nor her off red carpet look left a mark.
2005
This time Ash -- who delivered the Cannes inaugural speech, the first for an Indian actor -- ditched Lulla and opted for international designers.
But the missteps weren't over.
While the black Gucci gown hit the right notes, she struck out with the printed Giorgio Armani dress.
But the missteps weren't over.
While the black Gucci gown hit the right notes, she struck out with the printed Giorgio Armani dress.
2006
This year saw Ash return to Cannes not just as a beauty icon, but also the star of Provoked, which was screened at the festival.
It also saw her up her red carpet game.
It also saw her up her red carpet game.
2007
The newlywed Aishwarya charmed the red carpet with her Giorgio Armani gown and husband Abhishek Bachchan by her side.
Screenings of the couple's film, Guru, and a teaser of Ash's next, Jodhaa Akbar, were the icing on the cake.
Screenings of the couple's film, Guru, and a teaser of Ash's next, Jodhaa Akbar, were the icing on the cake.
2008
Be it the black Elie Saab, the green Armani Prive, the gold Giorgio Armani, or the magenta Roberto Cavalli, Ash was on point at every red carpet turn this year.
And the entire Bachchan clan was there to witness it.
And the entire Bachchan clan was there to witness it.
2009
By 2009, Ash had clearly learned to get it right on the red carpet by sticking with designers like Roberto Cavalli and Elie Saab, but her off red carpet styling -- even Cavalli couldn't help here -- still needed serious work.
2010
For the first time since her 2003 red carpet disasters, Ash brought back the sari.
And designer Sabyasachi held his own amid Ash's other choices of the year -- Elie Saab, Armani Prive and Gucci.
And designer Sabyasachi held his own amid Ash's other choices of the year -- Elie Saab, Armani Prive and Gucci.
2011
Ash brought her A-game to the red carpet with Elie Saab -- for the fourth consecutive year -- and Armani Prive.
But that off red-carpet look -- this time by Lanvin -- still cried out for the right stylist.
But that off red-carpet look -- this time by Lanvin -- still cried out for the right stylist.
2012
We give major props to Ash for embracing her post-partum weight in an Elie Saab gown and an Angelo Katsapis maxi dress. We only wish designers Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla had done the same with her sari pick.
2013
Ash continued her winning streak with Elie Saab and Gucci and her hits and misses with Indian designers (read Sabyasachi and Abu Jani-Sandip Khosla, respectively).
2014
Ash steered clear of Indian outfits and banked on Roberto Cavalli and Armani Prive to help her get the right look.
Every. Single. Time.
Every. Single. Time.
2015
This was clearly the year Ash cracked her off-red carpet look with a maroon Oscar de la Renta gown for the launch of Jazbaa, a floral Sabyasachi creation for the Variety and UN Women's panel, and a lilac Elie Saab gown for the amfAR Gala.
On the red carpet, while Elie Saab remained consistent with a green gown, the winner was clearly the dramatic Ralph & Russo gown.
On the red carpet, while Elie Saab remained consistent with a green gown, the winner was clearly the dramatic Ralph & Russo gown.
2016
Ash clearly leaned towards embellished gowns on the red carpet irrespective of the designers -- Ali Younes, Elie Saab or Rami Kadi.
She also chose Naeem Khan for an off red carpet interaction and a Rohit Bal for a pre-Sarabjit screening engagement.
But what most people remember about her 2016 Cannes outing are those purple lips.
She also chose Naeem Khan for an off red carpet interaction and a Rohit Bal for a pre-Sarabjit screening engagement.
But what most people remember about her 2016 Cannes outing are those purple lips.
2017
Ash channeled her inner fairytale princess at Cannes this year and left everyone nodding in approval.
For the first time in years Elie Saab was missing.
Instead, we saw her successfully experiment on and off the red carpet with Yanina Couture, Mark Bumgarner, Michael Cinco, Ashi Studio, Ralph & Russo and Monisha Jaising.
For the first time in years Elie Saab was missing.
Instead, we saw her successfully experiment on and off the red carpet with Yanina Couture, Mark Bumgarner, Michael Cinco, Ashi Studio, Ralph & Russo and Monisha Jaising.
