Then and Now: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 2006 pics from Cannes resurface as she recreates look; fans hail actress as 'timeless QUEEN'

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made quite the impression as she made an appearance once again at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Sticking to her favourite shade of blue, the actress stunned onlookers as she walked the red carpet in a custom sculptural gown designed by Amit Aggarwal.

Soon after photos from the event surfaced online, fans were convinced that the actor paid tribute to one of her most iconic red carpet moments from nearly two decades ago. Social media users began drawing comparisons between her latest look and her memorable 2006 Cannes appearance in a strapless navy blue gown by Elie Saab.



Fans were quick to point out that besides the similarities in the structural gowns, the actress also opted to wear jewellery reminiscent of the snake-inspired diamond necklace she famously wore in 2006.

Sharing side-by-side images from both appearances, one fan wrote, “referencing herself and her iconic snake necklace + navy blue dress from her cannes appearance exactly 20 years ago.”

Another admirer praised the actor’s enduring elegance, writing, “20 years, hundreds of appearances, and the she exudes the same unmatched level of elegance! A true star, she’ll never be anything less or anything else.”

Several fans also hailed the actor’s ability to recreate her own look, saying, "Only a timeless QUEEN could slay her own slay."


According to details shared by the designer label, the gown featured Amit Aggarwal’s signature “Crystal Vein” embroidery technique, created through more than 1,500 hours of intricate handwork. Thousands of crystalline linear embellishments were individually placed across the ensemble and connected through a lattice-like structure designed to resemble illuminated pathways flowing across the body.

The piece also featured sharp, wing-like extensions emerging from the shoulders, adding a dramatic touch to her look.