The red carpet rebellion: How Indians defied the no-drama directive at the Cannes Film Festival

When Cannes dropped its new red carpet rulebook this year, banning risqué cutouts and the kind of dramatic, sweeping trains that need their own postal code, we braced ourselves for a wave of sensible suits and prim silhouettes. But trust the Indian contingent to turn a fashion crackdown into a style rebellion. Not only did they bend the rules, they broke them with flair. And while some looked phenomenal as they showcased their individuality and cultural heritage through their dramatic sartorial choices, others just didn’t make the cut. Read on as we breakdown the hits, the misses, and everything in between.

First up in the rebellion roll call was Urvashi Rautela. The first Indian to strut down the Croisette, she appeared in a teal-and-black embellished gown so massive, it might’ve needed its own boarding pass. With a sweeping skirt that looked like leftover fabric stitched out of pure boredom, it was more migraine-inducing than magnificent—but hey, it was a moment.

Farhana Bodi, the Dubai Bling diva, followed suit in full Barbie-core glory. She floated down the carpet in a custom Atelier Zuhra gown in blush pink, boasting asymmetric cuts and dramatic sculptural ruffles. Somewhere in the background, Cannes’ dress code guidelines wept quietly.

And then came Nancy Tyagi, fashion’s favorite homegrown hero. After making headlines last year in a frothy pink creation, the self-taught designer outdid herself in a self-stitched mint-green gown that screamed grandeur. With a dramatic shoulder, a tulle train, and dozens of handcrafted roses, Nancy’s look was basically a masterclass in red carpet rebellion. Sure, it ticked off every box on the “what-not-to-wear” list—but when creativity looks this good, who’s really complaining?

Not to be outdone, Jacqueline Fernandez took the glam route to protest. Honored at the ‘Women in Cinema’ gala, she arrived in a deep red Nicole + Felicia creation with a sculpted corset bodice and sleeves so voluminous they could’ve caught the next Mediterranean breeze. Not exactly minimalist, and thank God for that.

Still, not all Indian attendees were ready to break the fashion commandments. Masoom Minawala, a Cannes veteran by now, proved you can stay within the lines and still steal the spotlight. She took the ‘Indian’ route, and wore a custom Arpita Mehta strapless gown with a Scandinavian scarf, paying tribute to the crafts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Her second outfit was a show-stopping ivory silk jumpsuit with a cape, hand-embroidered over 600 hours by Reik Studio. Quiet luxury? Not quite. Thoughtful, rooted, and radiant? Absolutely.

Then there was Parul Gulati, who turned heads in possibly the most unconventional-yet-code-compliant look of the year—a strapless black dress made entirely of braided hair. Styled by Mohit Rai and Riddhi Bansal of Itrh, the ensemble was an ode to her brand, Nish Hair, and doubled up as a genius marketing stunt.

All said and done, Cannes 2025 may have tried to quiet the fashion fireworks, but the Indian contingent had other plans. Rules were twisted, boundaries pushed, and red carpet moments made. Because if there’s one thing we do best, it’s making a statement, and sometimes, that means saying no to “no drama.”

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