Actor Alia Bhatt was set to make her much-awaited debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, but recent reports say she has decided to delay her appearance. The reason? Ongoing political tension between India and Pakistan.
Alia was supposed to walk the red carpet during the opening night of the festival on May 13, but has decided not to go—for now.
Cannes Plans on Pause
The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 13 and will continue until May 24. Alia Bhatt was invited as a brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, one of the festival’s major beauty partners.
A source told Mid-Day:
“She was supposed to fly out over the weekend for the opening ceremony. But given the current geopolitical climate, she felt it was important to show support for her country and decided to skip the trip.”
Alia Bhatt Speaks Out
On Tuesday, Alia Bhatt shared an emotional message online, addressing the tension between India and Pakistan. While she didn’t go into specifics, her tone reflected concern and solidarity with India during a sensitive time.
Could She Still Attend?
All hope is not lost for Alia’s Cannes appearance. The source added:
“The festival runs for 11 days. While she had several events planned for the first two days, there’s still a chance she could go later depending on her schedule and how things develop.”
So fans might still get to see her walk the iconic red carpet in the coming days.
A Big Moment for Alia
Alia was thrilled to represent L’Oréal Paris at Cannes and had shared her excitement earlier:
“There’s something absolutely special about firsts. I’m so excited to make my Festival de Cannes debut this year… It’s an iconic celebration of cinema and self-expression. To me, beauty is about celebrating individuality, confidence, and self-worth.”
She was expected to join Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, another L’Oréal ambassador and Cannes regular.
