"Alia Bhatt has stepped onto the Cannes stage for the first time. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan — Cannes' most iconic Indian presence — is absent. Both facts matter, and they're more connected than they look." WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED Alia Bhatt arrived at the French Riviera for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, making her debut on the Cannes red carpet. The 2026 festival runs May 12–23. India's presence at Cannes 2026 is notably diverse this year, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (who h