After slaying it in sindoor and saree, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made another strong sartorial statement at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. This time, in a black gown with a silver cape that celebrates India. Think Banarasi brocade and a Sanskrit shlok from the Bhagvad Gita inscribed on it.

Bearing bold red lips, parted beachy waves and her million-dollar smile, Cannes queen Aishwarya was dressed to impress in a Gaurav Gupta creation. She opted for a corseted black gown accentuated with starry-silver embellishments. A Banarasi silver cape, with a not-so-long train as per the new Cannes dress code, completed her look.

The embellishments, meanwhile, depicted an abstract rendition of the cosmos in bursts of silver, gold, charcoal and black, accented with micro-glass crystals to capture dimension and light.

In an Instagram post, designer Gaurav Gupta revealed that the Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in Varanasi, is inscribed with a Sanskrit shloka from the holy Bhagavad Gita, a picture of which the designer exclusively shared with India Today.

As for jewellery, she skipped the heavy necklace in favour of multiple rings, including her signature inverted V wedding ring, and a striking pair of statement earrings. In a notable styling move, she traded her usual sleek, middle-parted hair for relaxed, side-parted beachy waves.

This is not the first time Aishwarya has trusted designer Gaurav Gupta for her Cannes appearance. In 2022, she attended the prestigious film festival in a sculpted lavender gown.