Amid much buzz, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt made her glamorous appearance at the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival 2026 on May 12, 2026. While her peach couture gown and exquisite jewellery grabbed eyeballs, her look wasn`t the only thing that sparked conversations online. A clip of Alia Bhatt from the red carpet has now sparked intense discussion among Indian fans.
Video shows Alia Bhatt being ignored at the red carpet
In the video now doing rounds on the internet, Alia is seen confidently walking onto the iconic Cannes red carpet, smiling, waving at the crowd, and blowing flying kisses while posing for cameras. However, netizens noticed that despite stepping on the red carpet with confidence, blowing kisses, and smiling while posing, her presence did not garner enough attention even as she patiently waited for the photographers to click her pictures. Netizens also noted that the photographers were rather focused on other celebrities walking past Alia, than her.
For her Cannes red carpet appearance this year as the ambassador of a well-known beauty brand, Alia chose a blush-toned couture gown designed by Tamara Ralph. It was a strapless ensemble featuring a sculpted corset bodice with a curved neckline. She carried a flowing dupatta draped around her arms, adding a subtle Indian-inspired touch.
Alia was styled by Rhea Kapoor, who completed Alia`s look with statement gemstone jewellery that added extra sparkle to her appearance.
Netizens react
Netizens reacted to the viral video on Instagram by commenting on the now-viral video. One user wrote, “Baat toh sahi hai.. Koi photo hi nahi le raha.. She is also looking awkward. Anyways, the smile she carried throughout is showing she is strong.” Another user said, “they are busy photographing someone else!”
Another user wrote, “I dont like Alia but thats no way to treat an actress on such a big stage. Do your homework Hollywood Paps.”
Meanwhile, others drew comparisons with other actresses like Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. A user wrote, “Cannes just doesn’t feel the same without Aishwarya Rai. She brought grace, glamour, and emotions that turned every appearance into a moment. Her absence leaves a silence no spotlight can fill.”
Another commented, “She`s not even closer to being a Superstar.. she`s a good actress no doubt.. but clearly not a Superstar.. Superstars are Deepika Aishwaria and Priyanka.. i still remember that Cannes video of Deepika where photographers are shouting `over the shoulder please` this is what we call aura and presence, which is clearly missing this year with Alia bhatt” (sic)