The Cannes Film Festival 2025 officially commences today and will continue till May 24, 2025, with the promise of almost two weeks of world cinema, red carpet style, and star appearances. The theme of the festival this year is 'Lights, Beauty, and Action,' an expression of self-confidence, worth, and the feeling that everyone inherently deserves it.
While celebrities from the entire globe will be present there, Indian personalities are also breaking news with heavy presence throughout screening, premiering, and members of the jury.
The first on the list we have our undisputed Cannes queen, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She is back to the festival where she has been a constant for more than two decades. Having been there for the premiere of 'Devdas' with Shah Rukh Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Aishwarya went on to become an international ambassador for L'Oreal Paris and thus established her frequent attendance at this international extravaganza.
Secondly, we have our extremely versatile Alia Bhatt. She is one of the newest brand ambassadors of L'Oreal Paris. Award-winning actress Alia Bhatt gets ready for her first-ever Cannes outing. Talking about her excitement to walk one of the globe's most iconic red carpets, Bhatt said, "There's something absolutely special about firsts."
We also have Urvashi Rautela to lay on the glam on the red carpet. Urvashi Rautela will again feature on the festival's red carpet this year as she continues to keep a date with this worldwide film festivity.
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore also makes a meaningful return to Cannes, where she first appeared in 1962. This year, she will attend a special screening of Satyajit Ray's restored classic ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (1970), in which she starred opposite Soumitra Chatterjee. The restoration work was completed by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project at L'Immagine Ritrovata, in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection.
Simi Garewal will make her red carpet debut at the prestigious event on May 19, 2025. She will walk the red carpet for the screening of her film ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (1970), directed by Satyajit Ray. Simi shared a video on Instagram of her selecting dresses for the event, teasing her followers with her fashion choices. She had written, "So I've finally made up my mind about who will make my outfit for the red carpet at Cannes!!"
The follow-up has the global premiere of 'Homebound,' which features stars Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, at Cannes. Familiar with making fashionable decisions, Kapoor is sure to turn heads on the red carpet. Equally, Khatter, whose sense of fashion incorporates modernity with traditions, is likely to flaunt a sleek outfit on his debut at Cannes.
The Dharma Productions' Karan Johar, 'Homebound's' producer, will accompany his film's crew to Cannes. Known for his colorful and signature style of dressing, Johar's red carpet entry is eagerly looked forward to by fashion observers.
Jacqueline Fernandez will also be strutting the Cannes red carpet for the second time, in the list of Indian stars.
Following the success of Laapataa Ladies, Nitanshi Goel, a 17-year-old actress, will debut at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Nitanshi, who acted the role of Phool in Kiran Rao's award-winning film, will stroll down the red carpet as one of the L'Oréal Paris ambassadors, a beauty company that has been a part of Cannes for almost three decades.
Director Neeraj Ghaywan takes his 'Homebound' crew to Cannes, back to the festival where his first film, 'Masaan,' received two awards in 2015. It is a full-circle moment for the filmmaker.
We also have Payal Kapadiya. after winning the Grand Prize for her film 'All We Imagine As Light,' director Payal Kapadia takes on the heavy responsibility of jury member at this year's festival. She joins a distinguished list of Indians who have served as members of the Cannes jury, which includes Deepika Padukone (2022), Vidya Balan (2013), and Sharmila Tagore (2009). Film icon Mrinal Sen was the first Indian to be so honored in 1982.
Over the next ten days, as the festival progresses, these Indian stars will showcase the country's vibrant film heritage and modern-day talent on one of the most powerful international platforms of cinema.