Cannes 2025: What's written on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 'Heiress of Clam' outfit?

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

After making heads turn in a pristine white saree by Manish Malhotra, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returned for her second red carpet appearance at Cannes 2025 in a custom Gaurav Gupta Couture gown - a sculptural, galactic silhouette created exclusively for her red-carpet appearance.

Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's second look

Originally envisioned as the "Heiress of Clam" in Gupta's Paris Couture Collection: Across the Flame, the silhouette was reinterpreted for Aishwarya to reflect both cosmic symbolism and timeless elegance. The gown is hand-embroidered with an abstract rendition of the cosmos in bursts of silver, gold, charcoal, and black, accented with micro glass crystals to capture dimension and light.

Draped over the shoulders is a silver Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in Varanasi, India. At the back, embroidered into the brocade, is a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita:

"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन।
र्ा कर्मफलहेतुर्भमर्ाम ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मधि॥"

"You have a right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits of those actions. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction."

A quiet expression of grace in action - not outcome.

Outfit handcrafted by 15 artisans

"Aishwarya defines the kind of woman we design for; timeless, intentional, and radiant. Her red-carpet presence has long inspired how we think about silhouette and stillness. This look was about creating something elemental: light, shadow, memory. She doesn't need to perform in a garment - she transforms it," says designer Gaurav Gupta. Styled by Allia Al Rufai, the look blends old Hollywood restraint with Indian artistry - a constellation of sculptural design and spiritual detail. It was handcrafted by over 15 artisans. The placement was made possible through the strategic efforts of Maison Bose.

Aishwarya's first look at Cannes 2025

On her first day at the French Riviera, Aishwarya opted for a white and golden saree by Manish Malhotra and accessorised it with a diamond and ruby necklace. However, the standout accessory was the long vermilion streak on her forehead, aka sindoor, which netizens suggested meant to quash those divorce rumours with Abhishek Bachchan.

Manish Malhotra explained that Aishwarya wore a handwoven Kadwa ivory Banarasi handloom saree which featured brocade motifs and hand-embroidered zari detailing in real chandi (silver), further extending the sanctity of the fabric. It was layered with a sheer white tissue handwoven dupatta, edged with real gold and silver zardozi embroidery. Her jewellery featured over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds in 18k gold.