Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has come out in strong defence of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after the veteran actor faced online trolling over her experimental feathered pantsuit at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kangana slammed critics who mocked Aishwarya’s appearance and called the 52-year-old actor “old.”
“Aishwarya Rai is not here to please you. She is here to represent Indian cinema on a global platform. Show some respect,” Kangana wrote.
What Kangana said
In a series of posts, Kangana did not hold back:
“Aishwarya has been India’s face at Cannes for over two decades. She walked the red carpet when most of these trolls were still in diapers. And now they think they have the right to comment on her body, her age, her clothes? Unbelievable.”
She added: “This constant scrutiny of women’s bodies, especially women over 40, has to stop. She is a global icon. She is a mother. She is a working actor. She doesn’t owe anyone a ‘perfect’ look.”
Kangana also praised Aishwarya’s choice of the white feathered pantsuit by Chinese designer Cheney Chan, calling it “bold and experimental.”
“At least she tries something new. She doesn’t play it safe every year. That takes courage. Something these anonymous trolls will never understand.”
The controversy
Aishwarya closed the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 23 in a dramatic all-white feathered pantsuit with a plunging neckline and a voluminous feathered stole that flowed behind her like wings.
While many fans and fashion critics praised the look as “angelic” and “diva-like,” a section of social media users mocked the ensemble, with some calling it “too much” and others making ageist comments.
The trolling prompted Aishwarya’s fans to trend #RespectAishwarya on social media, with many sharing her decades of red carpet moments at Cannes.
Kangana and Aishwarya: A complicated history
Kangana’s defence of Aishwarya is notable given their complicated history. In a 2017 interview with DNA, Kangana had called Aishwarya a “disaster” as a dancer in a song from the film ‘Sarbjit’.
“I think Aishwarya is a disaster. She keeps shaking her leg. I am not saying I am Madhubala or something but definitely I am better than her,” Kangana had said at the time.
She also claimed that Aishwarya had called her “the most insecure actor.”
In 2023, however, Kangana appeared to soften her stance, praising Aishwarya for her performance in ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’ and calling her a “dignified artist.”
Other celebrities defend Aishwarya
Kangana is not the only celebrity to speak out against the trolling. Actor Sonam Kapoor also defended Aishwarya, calling her “the queen of Cannes” and urging trolls to “get a life.”
Filmmaker Karan Johar wrote on social media: “Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been flying the Indian flag at Cannes for 23 years. That’s longer than some of her critics have been alive. Let that sink in.”
Designer Cheney Chan, who created the feathered pantsuit, also responded to critics, saying: “The look was meant to celebrate strength, grace, and transformation. Aishwarya wore it perfectly.”
Aishwarya’s Cannes legacy
Aishwarya has attended the Cannes Film Festival almost every year since 2002, representing L’Oréal Paris. Over the years, she has worn creations by designers including Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Neeta Lulla, Roberto Cavalli, Elie Saab, Michael Cinco, Gaurav Gupta, and now Cheney Chan.
Her 2023 appearance in a dramatic golden gown with a 23-foot train broke the internet. Her 2024 look in a custom pastel blue embroidered ensemble was equally celebrated.
This year, she attended the festival with her daughter Aaradhya, as has been their tradition for several years.
The bottom line
As Kangana rightly pointed out, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has nothing left to prove. She has been a global ambassador for Indian cinema long before social media existed to judge her every move.
The trolling, if anything, says more about the trolls than it does about her. And as Kangana put it: “She is not here to please you. She is here to shine. And she does. Every single time.”
