Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wears crown at Paris Fashion Week with Celine Dion, Kendall Jenner
Synopsis
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a crown on the Paris Fashion Week runway at the Eiffel Tower — standing alongside Celine Dion, Kendall Jenner, Viola Davis and Eva Longoria. With her crystal-embellished cape and striking new burgundy-red hair, she triggered a global 'royalty' conversation online, two decades after her trailblazing Cannes 2002 debut.
Key Takeaways
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walked the Paris Fashion Week runway on 28 September 2026 at Place Joffre , in front of the Eiffel Tower .
She was seen wearing a crown on stage alongside Kendall Jenner , Céline Dion , Eva Longoria , Viola Davis , Jane Fonda , Cara Delevingne , and Simone Ashley .
Her outfit featured a deep velvet gown with a crystal-embellished cape and a newly debuted burgundy-red hair colour.
Aishwarya and Eva Longoria were filmed sharing a warm backstage moment that circulated widely online.
Her international profile dates to Cannes 2002 , when she attended the Devdas premiere; in 2003 , she became the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes feature-film jury.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan brought global star power to Paris Fashion Week on 28 September 2026, walking the runway at Place Joffre against the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower alongside an extraordinary ensemble of international celebrities. The actress — a longtime fixture on the world's most prestigious fashion and film circuits — was seen wearing a crown on stage, prompting widespread reactions online calling her 'royalty'.
Who Was on Stage
The show united an exceptional lineup of global ambassadors and cultural icons: Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Céline Dion, Simone Ashley, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Cara Delevingne, and Andie MacDowell. Aishwarya was photographed sharing a warm backstage moment with Longoria, a video of which circulated widely. The group was collectively described as global ambassadors by organisers, underscoring the scale and ambition of the event.
What Aishwarya Wore
The actress made a striking visual statement in a deep velvet creation featuring elaborate detailing and a crystal-embellished cape. Her freshly unveiled burgundy-red hair drew particular attention, adding a bold contemporary edge to the ensemble. The look stood out even in a lineup that included some of fashion's most recognised faces.
From Cannes 2002 to Paris 2026
Aishwarya's presence at international events of this magnitude is part of a decades-long global trajectory. Her association with world-class fashion and cinema began at Cannes 2002, when she attended the premiere of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas — a film screened in competition at the festival. She arrived in a traditional yellow saree, accompanied by Bhansali and co-star Shah Rukh Khan, the trio famously making their entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. The following year, she returned as a Cannes jury member, becoming the first Indian actress ever to serve in that role. Her Paris Fashion Week appearance on 28 September adds another landmark chapter to that international narrative.
The Reaction
Social media erupted with praise for Aishwarya's appearance at the event. Numerous online commentators used the word 'royalty' to describe her stage presence, referencing both the crown she wore and her broader bearing on the runway. Notably, the event's placement against the Eiffel Tower at Place Joffre amplified the visual spectacle, making it one of the most-discussed fashion moments of the week. This comes amid growing global recognition of Indian representation at high-profile international cultural events.
Point of View
But it is also a data point in a longer story about Indian soft power on the global stage. Two decades after she arrived at Cannes in a saree on a horse-drawn carriage — when Indian presence at such events was novel — she now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Celine Dion and Viola Davis as a peer, not a curiosity. What mainstream coverage tends to overlook is how consistently she has shown up at these moments without the institutional backing — a studio system, an agency like WME or CAA — that typically sustains Western celebrities at this level. Whether the fashion industry's embrace of her translates into more meaningful Indian representation in design credits and creative roles, rather than just runway appearances, remains the open question.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walk at Paris Fashion Week 2026?
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan walked the runway at Place Joffre in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop, on 28 September 2026. The show brought together a lineup of global celebrities including Kendall Jenner, Céline Dion, Eva Longoria, Viola Davis, and others.
What did Aishwarya Rai wear at Paris Fashion Week?
She wore a deep velvet creation with elaborate detailing and a crystal-embellished cape. Her newly unveiled burgundy-red hair was widely noted as a striking contemporary addition to the look.
Why were people calling Aishwarya Rai 'royalty' online?
Reactions online referred to her as 'royalty' after she was seen wearing a crown on stage during the Paris Fashion Week show. Her overall appearance — the gown, the cape, and her bearing on the runway — drew widespread praise from fans and commentators.
What is the history of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at international fashion and film events?
Aishwarya's international presence dates to Cannes 2002, when she attended the premiere of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas alongside Shah Rukh Khan, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage. In 2003, she became the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes feature-film jury.
Which celebrities appeared alongside Aishwarya Rai at Paris Fashion Week 2026?
The show featured Kendall Jenner, Céline Dion, Eva Longoria, Simone Ashley, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Cara Delevingne, and Andie MacDowell, among others. Aishwarya was also filmed sharing a backstage moment with Eva Longoria.
