Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 13: For decades, L’Oréal Paris has maintained a strong association with the Cannes Film Festival, regularly showcasing its global ambassadors on the prestigious red carpet. Among its most recognised faces over the years has been Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai, who has been a consistent presence at Cannes for nearly two decades.

However, this year’s promotional visuals released by L’Oréal Paris at Le Martinez Hotel have sparked discussion online after Aishwarya Rai was not featured among the brand’s highlighted ambassadors. The posters included several global names, including Indian actor Alia Bhatt, but Aishwarya’s absence quickly drew attention from fans.

The brand shared the promotional image on Instagram with the caption, “Consider this L’Oréal Paris’s official check-in, Le Martinez is officially home for the Festival.” The post soon saw a wave of comments questioning Aishwarya’s absence, with many users expressing disappointment and praising her long-standing association with the brand and Cannes.

Some fans described her as an iconic face of Cannes for L’Oréal, while others argued that her contribution to the brand’s visibility in Asia had been significant.

Amid the growing discussion, one fan directly asked the brand about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s presence. In response, L’Oréal Paris commented, “Year after year, Cannes after Cannes, she never misses,” acknowledging her consistent participation at the festival.

Despite the clarification, reactions continued online, with several users asking why she was not included in the promotional posters and urging the brand to give her more visibility.

Aishwarya Rai made her Cannes debut in 2002 alongside Shah Rukh Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the premiere of Devdas. She became a L’Oréal ambassador in 2003 and has been a regular presence on the Cannes red carpet since then, earning her a long-standing association with the festival and the brand.