Huma Qureshi wears Banarasi saree at Cannes 2026, meets Rami Malek
Synopsis
At Cannes 2026, Huma Qureshi skipped the couture circuit entirely — arriving in a handwoven plum Banarasi saree with gold zari, and framing it as a tribute to living craft. Her Instagram caption did what most red-carpet looks cannot: it told a story. She also met Oscar winner Rami Malek at the Red Sea Film Foundation's 'Women in Cinema' event.
Key Takeaways
Huma Qureshi attended the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2026 in a handwoven plum Banarasi saree with gold zari detailing.
She paired the saree with gold temple jewellery and minimal makeup, drawing wide attention on the French Riviera.
Qureshi was photographed with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek at the Red Sea Film Foundation's 'Women in Cinema' segment.
Her Instagram caption described the saree as holding 'two worlds at once' — traditional Banarasi craft and contemporary motifs.
She is set to appear next in Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups , directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash , Nayanthara , and Kiara Advani .
Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi brought a distinctly Indian sensibility to the French Riviera on 16 May 2026, stepping out at the 79th Cannes Film Festival draped in a handwoven Banarasi saree — a quiet but powerful style statement amid the festival's global glamour.
The Look
The 39-year-old actress chose a deep, muted plum-hued saree with intricate gold zari detailing, pairing it with gold temple jewellery and minimal makeup. The ensemble, rooted in centuries-old Varanasi craftsmanship, stood out on a red carpet more accustomed to European couture.
What Huma Said
Sharing the images on Instagram, Qureshi wrote: 'From the ghats of Banaras to the French Riviera. There's something incredibly special about wearing a weave that feels like it has lived through time. What I love most is how it holds two worlds at once.' She added that being at Cannes — 'surrounded by cinema and storytelling' — made it feel 'surreal to wear something that tells a story of its own.'
Cannes Appearances
On the sidelines of the festival, Qureshi was photographed with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek. The image was shared by the Red Sea Film Foundation as part of its 'Women in Cinema' segment, further underlining the cross-cultural reach of her Cannes visit. This comes amid a broader trend of Indian actors using Cannes as a platform to champion domestic textile traditions — from Deepika Padukone's Sabyasachi moments to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's annual sartorial spectacles.
Upcoming Projects
Qureshi was last seen in Single Salma, alongside Sunny Singh and Shreyas Talpade. She is now set to appear in Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, starring Yash in the lead, where she will play the role of Elizabeth. The film — written by Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas — also features Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Rukmini Vasanth, and Akshay Oberoi. Shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam are also planned.
Point of View
Arriving in a handloom Banarasi saree reframes the red carpet as a platform for craft advocacy. Indian actors have increasingly used Cannes this way, but the accompanying Instagram narrative — literate, specific, and unsponsored in tone — gives this one unusual staying power. Whether it translates into meaningful visibility for Varanasi weavers beyond the Instagram cycle is the harder question mainstream coverage rarely asks.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Huma Qureshi wear at Cannes 2026?
Huma Qureshi wore a handwoven, deep plum-hued Banarasi saree with gold zari detailing at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2026. She completed the look with gold temple jewellery and minimal makeup.
Did Huma Qureshi meet any international stars at Cannes 2026?
Yes, Huma Qureshi was photographed with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek on the sidelines of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The image was shared by the Red Sea Film Foundation as part of its 'Women in Cinema' segment.
What did Huma Qureshi write about her Banarasi saree on Instagram?
She wrote: 'From the ghats of Banaras to the French Riviera. There's something incredibly special about wearing a weave that feels like it has lived through time.' She described it as holding 'the nostalgia of a traditional Banarasi weave' alongside 'motifs that feel contemporary and playful.'
What is Huma Qureshi's next film?
Huma Qureshi is set to appear in Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, starring Yash in the lead role. She plays the character Elizabeth in the film, which is directed by Geetu Mohandas and also stars Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Rukmini Vasanth, and Akshay Oberoi.
In how many languages will Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups release?
The film has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam — making it a broad multilingual release.
