Aishwarya Rai Bachchan faces ageist, body-shaming remarks after Cannes 2026 appearance

For days, speculations mounted around whether Bollywood’s diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would attend the 79th Cannes Film Festival. So, when she finally appeared, she ensured she turned heads and owned the moment like a Queen, leaving her fans in awe of her presence. However, while her eventual red carpet appearance excited fans, it also sparked divided reactions online.

Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan floats down the Cannes 2026 staircase in sapphire blue and the internet loses its mind

This year, the actress wore an opulent sapphire-blue sequinned couture gown featuring sculpted metallic wave-like embellishments on the red carpet. Her second look at the French Riviera featured a breathtaking romantic blush-pink silk gown featuring floral embellishments and a flowing chiffon cape. The looks, which immediately dominated social media timelines, triggered discussions extending far beyond fashion, reigniting debates around ageism, body shaming and the treatment of female actors in the public eye.

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The Internet’s Obsession With Appearance and Ageing

While some fans flooded social media with clips, photos and reactions calling her “timeless,” other users criticised Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s appearance with deeply personal remarks.

One viral post targeted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan over her appearance, claiming, “Aishwarya had a pregnancy 15 years before. Still, she is not back in shape. She lacks motivation, nothing else.”

Aishwarya had a pregnancy 15 years before.

Still, she is not back in shape.

She lacks motivation, nothing else. pic.twitter.com/RzIBE9C8Fa

— desi sigma (@desisigma) May 23, 2026

A few posts compared the actor to her contemporaries, framing the discussion around fitness, appearance and ageing.

Doesn’t Aishwarya Rai do yoga or exercise to stay slim like Shilpa Shetty? pic.twitter.com/5xEZ5nxBm8

— Sunil Rao (@memer_mitron) May 23, 2026

aishwarya rai at 52. preity zinta at 51. pic.twitter.com/wL8yamEy3P

— balli (@labonkakarobar) May 23, 2026

Another viral post likened Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Rakhi Sawant, alleging that the actor had undergone cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers. The user referred to her as a “plastic Barbie” and also called Aishwarya “hypocritical,” claiming she had become “someone she once said she would never be” by allegedly altering her natural appearance.

Even The Most Beautiful Woman in the World is Insecure about her beauty that she had to use Botox, Fillers and undergo Cosmetic Procedures; Life’s Biggest “Tragedy” & “Dark Reality”

Seeing “Aishwarya Rai” face matching to Rakhi Sawant is peak sadness 😢😭 pic.twitter.com/hUrxDIclrS

— Iwasamwill (@Iwasamwill) May 22, 2026

RIP Natural Beauty 😢 Now, Plastic Barbie 😭

Yesterday people were saying she just gained weight but I disagree,
*Aishwarya Rai Bachchan* definitely did a lot of cosmetic procedures & now looks exactly like *Rakhi Sawant*.

It is her choice to do that but she has become someone… pic.twitter.com/fVoCz262bx

— Iwasamwill (@Iwasamwill) May 24, 2026

Some reactions also brought the actress’ personal life into the conversation, with one viral comment linking her appearance to ongoing rumours around her marriage and family life.

This is how you age when your husband is problematic pic.twitter.com/1aaU56CqoB

— Stutii (@Sam0kayy) May 23, 2026

Female Celebrities and the Burden of Beauty Standards

Beyond the trolling itself, the reactions highlighted a broader issue surrounding the treatment of female celebrities online. The fixation on ageing, weight and cosmetic procedures reflected a wider culture in which female actors are constantly judged against narrow and often unattainable beauty standards far more than their male counterparts. In this case too, much of the remarks directed at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan focused less on her Cannes outfits and more on her body, age and changing looks. This reflects how women in the public eye continue to face intense scrutiny over their appearance despite their achievements.

A Problem Bigger Than Celebrity Culture

Such incidents remind us of the deeply rooted societal attitudes towards women narrowing their worth to just appearance. And how the pressure to look youthful, fit and conventionally attractive is not limited to actors alone but mirrors expectations many women face in their everyday lives.