Aishwarya Rai’s absence from L’Oréal Cannes 2026 campaign leaves fans fuming
Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s absence from L’Oréal Paris’ Cannes 2026 campaign video has raised questions online. This response reflects his long association with the brand and the Cannes Film Festival.
If you were looking at beauty brand L’Oréal Paris’ latest Cannes Film Festival campaign, one absence immediately stood out. Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was not seen in the promotional video shared by the brand on May 10. The boycott immediately drew criticism on Instagram and Twitter ahead of Cannes 2026, with fans asking, “Where is Aishwarya?”
The reaction was sharp as the 52-year-old actor has been associated with L’Oréal at Cannes for more than two decades. For many fans, he is one of the brand’s most familiar faces at the festival. Their absence from the latest campaign raised questions, while L’Oréal said all three of its Indian ambassadors, Aishwarya, Alia Bhatt and Aditi Rao Hydari, would represent India at this year’s event.
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Controversy
On May 10, the official L’Oréal Paris Instagram account posted a video showing large promotional posters being hoisted over a hotel building in Cannes. The scenes included Aaliyah, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria and Helen Mirren, among others. The caption reads, “And action! The most coveted aspect of Cannes is achieving its festival look.”
Soon after, fans started asking why Aishwarya was not included. Many said that the brand’s longtime face should have appeared alongside other celebrities in the campaign. His absence dominated the comment sections, with many users criticizing the brand for leaving him out.
Aishwarya became the global brand ambassador of L’Oréal in 2003 alongside names like Andie MacDowell, Eva Longoria and Penélope Cruz. Since then, she has walked the Cannes red carpet more than 20 times under the brand’s banner, making her one of the most recognizable faces at the festival.
India’s Cannes line-up
While Aishwarya’s absence in the campaign attracted attention, Alia was featured prominently in it. She returns to Cannes for the second consecutive year as the global ambassador of L’Oréal Paris, following her debut at the 2025 festival.
On Monday, Alia was seen at Nice airport in a structured all-black look. She wore a tailored Carolina Herrera blazer with puffed shoulders and a nipped-in waist, paired with matching Camila skinny trousers from the label’s Spring 2026 collection. She completed the monochrome look with Gucci accessories.
Talking about her return, Alia said, “It feels incredibly special to return to Cannes for the second time with L’Oréal Paris. Last year was an unforgettable experience, and I’m really excited to be back for an even bigger celebration this year.”
“There is a beautiful energy here, a celebration of sisterhood and female voices, and it’s a privilege to be a part of this journey with a brand that strongly supports the value and empowerment of women,” she said.
Among other celebrities at the festival, filmmaker Payal Kapadia will also be the chair of the jury for the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week.