The 77th Cannes Film Festival is set to begin tomorrow and we can’t wait to see stars bring their A-game to the infamous red carpet. We’ve witnessed iconic fashion moments from Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes debut in a resplendent gold Sabyasachi saree to Anushka Sharma’s 2023 debut in an elegant Richard Quinn dress, those were just a few of many showstopping looks. However, the makeup looks have been equally gorgeous and eye-catching, sending the internet into a frenzy. Does anyone remember Aishwarya Rai’s bold lavender pout in 2016 and Deepika Padukone’s exaggerated black-swan eyeliner in 2023? Some worked, some didn’t—here are 7 of the most daring makeup looks on Indian celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet.
Deepika’s black-swan inspired eye makeup
Whether it’s at the Cannes Film Festival in France or back home in Mumbai, Deepika Padukone has proven she can sport any makeup look. From nude shades and bright colours to the “no-makeup” look, she’s done it all. But when she chooses to go all out with her eyes, that always stands out. In a stunning gold and black striped Sabyasachi saree, she opted for an exaggerated vintage-inspired eyeliner to complement the retro vibe. I absolutely loved this daring look, especially with the shape of the eyeshadow.
Aishwarya’s bold lavender pout
At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya waved off her usual bold red lip or the 2000s frosted pink lip for a lavender pout. We all remember this one; it went viral on the internet and has gone down as one of her most surprising and controversial looks. She wore a stunning pastel floral gown by Rami Kadi, with a sleek ponytail, smokey eyeshadow, and a vibrant lavender lip. I’m all for bold choices, but I can’t help but wonder if another hue of purple would have done the trick.
Sonam’s silver eye-makeup look
Sonam Kapoor has had iconic fashion moments at Cannes with designers like Jean Paul Gaultier to Anamika Khanna. In 2016, she wore a white saree-inspired Ralph and Russo haute couture gown with a long train embroidered with silver threadwork, silver bullion, beads and crystals and following this theme— she wore gorgeous silver eyeshadow to accentuate her look. With kohl-rimmed eyes and silver shadow, I quite enjoyed the theme work on this makeup look.
Priyanka Chopra’s turquoise winged eyeliner
Priyanka made a splash with her husband, Nick Jonas on the Cannes 2019 carpet, serving some of the best couple looks to date during their week-long visit. Attending the Chopard party during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2019, she wore a turquoise winged eyeliner look to complement her mermaid-inspired outfit. It’s not easy to use contrasting hues to your advantage and PeeCee made that work, so YAY to that.
Natasha Poonawalla’s draped blush
Natasha Poonawalla wore a stunning neon green ruffled Marc Jacobs gown to Cannes 2023, with a heavy dose of rosy rouge blush and perfectly aligned pink lips to brighten her avant-garde look. Draped blush is always a daring option that sculpts your face with some colour and I love how Natasha aced the monochrome makeup with her popping outfit.
Aishwarya’s deep red lip
There is no such thing as too much red—at least on Aishwarya Rai. At Cannes 2017, she donned a deep bold red lip with her stunning red Ralph & Russo gown, and of course, the lips stood out. I wish I could sport a striking colour like this with as much confidence.
Deepika Padukone’s exaggerated jewel-toned green eyeshadow
Perfectly matching her outfit and adding to her many bold eye looks, Deepika Padukone’s eye makeup at the Cannes 2017 red carpet stands out like a peacock’s tail, with the eye dusted in a bold shade of emerald green that extended into a pair of dramatic wings at the outer corners. I love how the colour compliments her eyes and matches her outfit perfectly.
