Guwahati, Jul 12: It is, perhaps, the only film festival in the world where cinema and fashion make up for a heady cocktail. While the screens light up with the works of master auteurs, the red carpet sparkles with the very best of haute couture. And after the COVID-induced lull of 2020, this year saw a frenzy of activity in this French city, with full-capacity theatres and teeming red carpet events.
And unlike most years, India has only one film in the official selection — Invisible Demons, a documentary film by Rahul Jain on Delhi's struggle with pollution. Even the red carpet is missing the big Indian names. None of the big fashion/cinematic exports this time — no Aishwarya Rai, no Sonam Kapoor, no Deepika Padukone!
What's amazing, though, is the entry of social media influencers into the fashion game here. Just goes to show how the dynamics of the fashion world have taken a complete overhaul and it is not just about the big names anymore. It's not just about what Anna Wintour thinks or feels, a young woman from any corner of the world can become a style icon with just an Instagram profile. It is people like Masoom Minawala and Diipa Buller-Khosla who have changed the game on its head.
Diipa Buller-Khosla
Khosla is the first Indian influencer to make it big internationally, with seven international magazine covers, and the title of 'Influencer of the Year' for three consecutive years by Vogue, Elle and Grazia. This was her third Cannes appearance, but this time as a new mother. And as she rocked her desi look in Falguni Shane Peacock lehenga, she also managed to make a bold statement by adding breast pumps to one of her outfits, merely to shut up all those trolls who constantly judge or scrutinise mothers for their choices. "Being a mother does not mean that you are now the target to everybody and anybody's scrutiny," Diipa later wrote in an Instagram post.
Masoom Minawala flaunts a sparkling Manish Malhotra sari with cape sleeves while she walks the red carpet at Cannes
Meanwhile, Masoom Minawala made a radiant debut in a sparkling Manish Malhotra sari with cape sleeves. And that wasn't all, she later dazzled in a sorbet-hued tube dress with a structured bustier from Lia Stublla — a dream-come-true moment for this young Indian influencer with an online community of over one million followers.
Nidhi Sunil
Another young Indian actress made her debut at the red carpet this time. A South Indian actress, Nidhi Sunil is at the festival for her film All Went Well, and everything did go well for her as she made heads turn with her sartorial fashion choices. One was a white flaring dress with a plunging neckline, from Rabih Kayrouz, and the other was a short ivory dress by Rahul Mishra.
