17-year-old actress Nitanshi Goel, known for her breakout role as Phool in Kiran Rao’s acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies, made her debut appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Day 3 of the prestigious event.
Walking the red carpet in a striking custom black-and-golden Jade gown with a dramatic floor-sweeping tulle train, Nitanshi turned heads with her elegant presence. Completing the look with a sleek ponytail, dewy makeup, and minimal accessories, the young star exuded poise and confidence. Sharing glimpses from her red carpet walk on May 16, she wrote:
“Still taking it all in…Grateful, honoured, and so proud to represent a bit of India on this global stage. Walking the red carpet at Cannes felt like a dream — thank you for all the love, always.”
However, her stunning gown appeared to be in violation of the festival’s new dress code, which explicitly banned voluminous outfits and floor-length trains. As per the advisory released ahead of the festival’s opening on May 14, such attire could disrupt red carpet traffic and complicate theatre seating. The organisers also prohibited nudity on the red carpet, citing concerns around “decency.”
Despite the advisory, several celebrities including Bella Hadid, Heidi Klum, Wan QianHui, and Frédérique Bel have chosen to ignore the restrictions, making bold fashion statements on the red carpet — Nitanshi seemingly among them.
In addition to Nitanshi, Indian representation at Cannes this year includes Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Karan Johar, who are all expected to make appearances. Veteran actor Anupam Kher attended Day 2 of the festival, while celebrated filmmaker Payal Kapadia, who won the Grand Prix at Cannes last year, has been named a jury member for this edition.
Nitanshi’s Cannes debut comes shortly after she won the IIFA Best Actress award for her heartfelt performance in Laapataa Ladies. The 78th Cannes Film Festival, which began on May 14, will conclude on May 25.
