After days of intense speculation surrounding her possible absence from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has finally put all rumours to rest as reported by Hindustan Times.
According to Hindustan Times, the actor was spotted early Friday morning at the Mumbai airport alongside her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, as the duo departed for the French Riviera to attend the internationally celebrated film festival.
As reported by Hindustan Times, Aishwarya and Aaradhya coordinated their airport looks in elegant all-black ensembles. Aishwarya opted for a structured black blazer featuring sharp lapels and delicate floral sequin embroidery.
The embellished detailing shimmered under the paparazzi flashes, adding a glamorous touch to her monochrome appearance. She paired the blazer with straight-fit black trousers, black heeled boots, and carried a black handbag with brown handles along with an additional black cover-up.
Walking hand-in-hand with her mother, Aaradhya complemented the look in black flared jeans paired with a black-and-white top featuring small centre buttons and a subtle V-neckline. She layered the outfit with a black leather jacket, creating a coordinated mother-daughter airport appearance.
Hindustan Times further reported that Aishwarya warmly greeted photographers gathered at the airport and even paused to click a picture with a young fan before heading inside the terminal.
In a candid moment, the actor also alerted paparazzi about one of them losing footwear before smiling for more pictures and entering the airport premises.
The actor is expected to attend the festival as a global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris. Speculation about her absence had intensified over the past few days after fans noticed she was missing from several of the brand’s promotional campaigns linked to the festival.
Reacting to her departure for Cannes, fans flooded social media with excitement. “Finally! The QUEEN of Cannes.. sorry.. the MOTHER of Cannes is here,” one user wrote, while another commented, “Finally ! The OG Queen of Cannes.”
Another fan added, “The only Cannes look we have been waiting for,” while several others referred to her as the “Queen of Cannes.” “Can't wait to see her on the red carpet,” another social media user shared.
According to Hindustan Times, Aishwarya is expected to make her red carpet appearance on the closing day of the festival. The actor first attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2002 alongside Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the premiere of their film Devdas.
A year later, she made her debut as a L’Oréal ambassador at the festival and has remained a regular face on the Cannes red carpet ever since.
Aishwarya was last seen in Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2, directed by Mani Ratnam. Her performance in the film earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role (Critics) award at the South Indian International Movie Awards held in Dubai.
The epic historical drama also starred Vikram, Ravi Mohan, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Aishwarya Lekshmi among others.
The film revolved around Prince Arulmozhi Varman’s journey and the political challenges faced by the Chola Empire. While the actor continues to dominate headlines with her Cannes appearances, she is yet to officially announce her next film project.