Alia Bhatt’s presence at Cannes Film Festival 2026 has drawn attention both on and off the red carpet. But it was a comment section exchange that ended up generating the most buzz online.
Videos from the opening days of the Cannes Film Festival went viral on social media, with users pointing out that foreign paparazzi appeared to pay little attention to Alia while she walked the red carpet. Only a small number of photographers clicked her, and some netizens claimed they could hear camerapersons asking who she was.
The situation also triggered comparisons with fellow L’Oréal ambassador Aishwarya Rai, who is widely recognised internationally. The videos spread quickly, and a section of social media users began mocking Alia’s global standing.
Also Read: Stop chasing the male audience: Alia Bhatt uses Cannes 2026 platform to push for gender-agnostic cinema in India
The Instagram post and the comment
On Wednesday, Alia shared a reel on Instagram showcasing her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in a custom ivory silk saree-gown. While many praised the look, one user wrote in the comments: “What a pity, no one noticed you,” followed by a laughing emoji.
Alia responded directly to the comment: “Why pity love? You noticed me :).”
Alia’s Cannes 2026 appearances
This year marked Alia’s second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, after making her debut in 2025. Across the event, she was seen in multiple looks, a peach gown at the opening ceremony, the ivory silk saree-gown at the Bharat Pavilion event, and a blue gown during the screening of ‘La Vie d’Une Femme’.
She attended the festival as a representative of India and as the brand ambassador of L’Oréal.
What’s next for Alia
On the work front, Alia is preparing for the release of ‘Alpha’, a spy-action thriller directed by Shiv Rawail, which also stars Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Sharvari. The film is going to release on July 10, 2026.
She is also currently involved in the production of ‘Tumbbad 2’, and has ‘Love & War’, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, in the pipeline.