Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turned heads at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21 in a classic white Manish Malhotra sari paired with ruby jewellery from the Indian couturier’s collection.

The highlight of her look, however, was a bright red sindoor on her forehead, which sparked attention on social media. While some fans speculated that the vermillion might be her way of quashing divorce rumours with her husband Abhishek Bachchan, others pointed out that it might allude to Operation Sindoor launched by India against Pakistan this month.

Aishwarya’s Cannes look consisted of a handwoven Kadwa Banarasi handloom sari, a handwoven tissue drape and ruby jewellery, all from a collection by Manish Malhotra. Her layered necklace featured over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds with 18 carat gold. A matching statement ring, maroon lipstick and flowing hair rounded off the look.

The 51-year-old actress wore a saree to the Cannes Film Festival in 2002 as well for the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, which marked her debut at the French Riviera. This year, she was present at the event for the premiere of Oliver Hermanus’s The History of Sound.

Last year, the Cannes veteran stunned in a custom black-and-white Falguni Shane Peacock gown, designed to complement the white plaster on her right arm.