Meghana HarikumarParis: The red carpet at the 78th Cannes Film Festival has long been a canvas for cinematic royalty, couture legends, and cultural trailblazers. This year, however, it shimmered with a new kind of brilliance—one rooted not in film or fashion alone, but in the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Making her debut with striking elegance and quiet confidence was Falguni Nayar, the founder of Nykaa, accompanied by her son, Anchit Nayar, CEO and Executive Director at the beauty e-commerce giant.
Their presence wasn’t just a first for the family—it was a proud, defining moment for Indians at Cannes, where the spotlight shifted from celebrities to change-makers, from stars to self-made visionaries.
Falguni Nayar’s entry into Cannes was more than symbolic. Draped in a tailored red ensemble that exuded power and poise, she embodied the modern Indian woman—one who dares to build, lead, and dream beyond borders. Her poise on the red carpet echoed the ethos she built Nykaa on: inclusivity, accessibility, and a bold reimagining of beauty in India.
Standing beside her was Anchit Nayar, representing not just the next generation of leadership at Nykaa, but the evolution of legacy-building in Indian business. Together, they showcased a beautiful synergy of tradition and innovation, a parent-child partnership that is shaping one of India’s most influential brands.
In a festival known for cinematic storytelling, the Nayar duo brought a different narrative—one of entrepreneurship, elegance, and the global ascent of Indian brands. Their Cannes debut stood tall alongside international celebrities, carving a niche for Indian business leaders in a space traditionally reserved for actors, models, and designers.
This moment is also a celebration of how deeply Nykaa has influenced Indian beauty culture. As the official beauty partner for L’Oréal Paris in India, Nykaa has bridged the gap between Indian consumers and global beauty standards—democratizing access to luxury and pushing forward conversations on identity, choice, and representation. Their presence at Cannes signals not just a collaboration, but a cultural elevation—bringing Cannes to India and India to Cannes.
In recent years, the conversation around Indians at Cannes has evolved. No longer is the red carpet limited to Bollywood’s finest; it is now a platform for diverse Indian voices—from directors and designers to stylists and entrepreneurs. From Deepika Padukone’s jury appearance to designers like Rahul Mishra and actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Aditi Rao Hydari making waves, Cannes has increasingly become a mirror to India’s expanding global presence.
Falguni Nayar’s presence adds a new layer to this story. She is not just another face on the carpet; she is the force behind a company that revolutionized how Indian women see themselves. From launching Nykaa in 2012 as a digital-first beauty platform to turning it into a unicorn and then a publicly listed company, Nayar’s journey is aspirational. Her Cannes moment is not just for Nykaa or for beauty lovers—it is for every Indian woman who’s been told that ambition has a deadline.
It’s also worth noting the larger cultural significance of this presence. In a festival that celebrates excellence in storytelling, Cannes has become a place where India is increasingly telling its own story—not through borrowed narratives, but through its own creators, thinkers, and leaders. The Nayars’ red carpet debut is one such story. It’s about generational leadership. About redefining glamour. And about ensuring the world sees Indian entrepreneurship as something that belongs on global stages.
As millions of Indian viewers followed Cannes coverage through Nykaa and L’Oréal’s collaborative updates, the ripple effect was clear: aspiration is no longer bound to geography. The Cannes red carpet is no longer a distant fantasy—it is a space where Indian voices, faces, and businesses belong.
And that is the power of presence.
From startup boardrooms to the steps of the Palais des Festivals, Indians at Cannes are writing new chapters of representation—beyond cinema, beyond fashion, and into the future. With Falguni and Anchit Nayar’s striking debut, the world was reminded that Indian glamour today wears many hats—visionary, founder, leader, legacy-builder.
In a world that often limits beauty to the visible, this was beauty in its most expansive form: confidence, ambition, and the courage to take up space.
Editor
Meghana Harikumar
