Alia Bhatt blends Victorian royalty with Indian heritage in chintz-inspired off-shoulder gown at Cannes Film Festival

Alia Bhatt continued her striking fashion run at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, unveiling her sixth look at the global event — a sculpted off-shoulder custom gown by Tarun Tahiliani that blended Victorian corsetry with Indian draping traditions.

For the Jane Fonda and Gong Li dinner celebration, Alia wore a deep red off-shoulder gown featuring intricate hand-painted floral embroidery in burgundy and muted ivory shades. The fitted silhouette cinched at the waist before flowing into a soft mermaid-style hem, drawing inspiration from historical chintz textiles.

According to the designer, the embroidered floral motifs echoed “the delicacy of hand-painted botanical studies”, while the sculpted structure brought a sense of regal drama to the ensemble. The look was conceived as a modern interpretation of heritage dressing, combining couture craftsmanship with understated elegance.

The standout feature of the gown was its structured neckline, complemented by rich brocade detailing that added depth and texture. Alia paired the look with a statement diamond choker and a jeweled waist embellishment, adding a touch of royal opulence while maintaining the contemporary feel of the outfit.

She styled her hair in a sleek pulled-back bun to keep the focus on the gown and jewellery, while her soft, glowing makeup enhanced the romantic tones of the ensemble.

Earlier at Cannes, Alia also turned heads in another Tarun Tahiliani creation during her appearance at the Bharat Pavilion. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the look featured a modern “apsar-ette” silhouette with sculpted drapes, floral embroidery, an ivory chanderi dhoti skirt, and layered draping details.

Alia also carried a lace umbrella while walking outdoors, evoking a European summer romance aesthetic. Her nose pin, or nath, quickly became one of the most talked-about details of the look.

Sharing pictures from the event on Instagram, Alia wrote, “feeling unapologetically filmy. for the inauguration of the Bharat Pavillion.”

Other Indian celebrities expected to attend this year’s Cannes Film Festival include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Tara Sutaria, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Mouni Roy, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ammy Virk and Karan Johar.