22 May 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : After days of intense speculation surrounding her absence from this year’s festival, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was finally spotted heading to the closing ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival alongside daughter Aaradhya Bachchan.
The actor was photographed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport late Thursday night before departing for France. Videos and photographs of the mother-daughter duo quickly went viral across social media platforms, exciting fans who had been eagerly waiting for confirmation of Aishwarya’s Cannes appearance this year.
Aishwarya and Aaradhya were seen twinning in elegant black outfits as they made their way through the airport amid tight security and a large gathering of paparazzi.
According to reports, Aishwarya is expected to attend the festival’s closing ceremony after missing the opening phase of Cannes 2026, which had triggered widespread speculation online regarding whether she would skip the event entirely this year.
Fans had become increasingly curious after Aishwarya was noticeably absent from promotional campaigns released by L’Oréal Paris ahead of the festival. The beauty brand, which Aishwarya has represented globally for more than two decades, released Cannes-related visuals featuring several ambassadors but not the Bollywood star.
Her absence from those campaign visuals sparked heated discussions across social media, with many users questioning whether the actress would attend Cannes for the first time in years.
However, L’Oréal Paris later hinted online that Aishwarya would indeed be attending the event, helping calm speculation among fans.
Now, with her airport appearance officially confirming her participation, excitement surrounding her Cannes red-carpet look has surged once again.
A Cannes Icon
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan remains one of India’s most iconic figures associated with Cannes.
She has attended the prestigious international film festival for more than two decades and is widely credited with helping increase Indian visibility at the event globally.
The actress first appeared at Cannes in 2002 during the premiere of Devdas alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Over the years, her red-carpet appearances have become among the most discussed moments from the festival, often dominating entertainment headlines in India and internationally.
In 2003, Aishwarya also became the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes jury, further strengthening her association with the festival.
Aaradhya Continues Cannes Tradition
Aaradhya Bachchan has accompanied her mother to Cannes several times in recent years and has become a familiar face at the event.
The mother-daughter duo often attracts major attention from international photographers and Indian fans during their appearances.
This year as well, Aaradhya accompanied Aishwarya during her departure from Mumbai, with videos showing the two briefly posing for photographers before entering the airport terminal.
Airport Fashion Draws Attention
Aishwarya’s airport appearance immediately generated fashion discussions online.
According to entertainment reports, the actress wore a sophisticated all-black outfit featuring a blazer and matching trousers paired with luxury accessories and boots. Aaradhya also coordinated in a black outfit, creating a stylish twinning moment.
Fans praised Aishwarya’s understated yet glamorous appearance, while many social media users expressed excitement about her expected red-carpet styling at Cannes.
Indian Presence At Cannes 2026
Several Indian celebrities have already attended Cannes 2026 this year, including Alia Bhatt and Aditi Rao Hydari.
However, Aishwarya’s absence during the festival’s opening days had remained one of the biggest talking points among Indian entertainment fans because of her long-standing connection with the event.
Many fashion commentators and Bollywood fans consider her annual Cannes appearance a defining moment for India’s representation at the global film festival.
Social Media Reactions
As soon as videos from Mumbai airport surfaced online, fans flooded social media with reactions celebrating Aishwarya’s return to Cannes.
Several users wrote that Cannes “finally feels complete” now that the actress is attending, while others praised her timeless style and global appeal.
Entertainment pages and fan accounts also began speculating about what designers and fashion houses Aishwarya may wear during the closing ceremony.
Why Her Cannes Appearance Matters
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s presence at Cannes carries significance beyond fashion alone.
Over the years, she has become one of India’s most internationally recognized entertainment personalities and remains among Bollywood’s strongest global ambassadors.
Industry experts often credit her for helping establish stronger Indian visibility at global fashion and film events long before international appearances by Indian actors became common.
Actress Huma Qureshi recently stated that Aishwarya played a major role in making Cannes culturally important for Indian audiences.
Closing Ceremony Anticipation
With the Cannes closing ceremony approaching, attention now shifts toward Aishwarya’s highly anticipated red-carpet appearance.
Fans, fashion critics, and entertainment media are expected to closely follow her look, interviews, and appearances from the festival venue over the coming days.
For now, however, her airport appearance alone has already ended weeks of speculation and once again placed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the center of Cannes excitement for Indian audiences worldwide.