Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her latest Paris Fashion Week appearance one to remember, pairing a dramatic couture look with a new hair colour and a series of candid moments with some of the biggest names at L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé. From her crystal-covered cape to an impromptu dance with Céline Dion, the actor had plenty of attention on her as she walked the runway with the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop.

Held at Place Joffre on September 28, the ninth edition of L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé brought together the beauty brand’s global ambassadors and celebrity faces. The showcase, themed “Walk Your Worth”, featured names including Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Simone Ashley, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda and Céline Dion.

For the occasion, Aishwarya opted for a look that leaned fully into theatrical glamour. She wore a two-piece velvet gown from Yara Shoemaker’s Fall/Winter 2026-27 couture collection, featuring sculptural proportions, three-dimensional fringe embroidery and a sweeping cape covered in crystals.

The deep velvet gave the outfit a rich, almost regal quality, while the crystal embellishment added movement and sparkle as she walked. The cape, in particular, turned the silhouette into a dramatic runway statement.

Adding an unexpected twist to the look was Aishwarya’s hair. The actor debuted a rich burgundy-red shade, marking a noticeable change from her more familiar hair looks. The colour also worked with the jewel-toned palette of the gown, adding a contemporary edge to the otherwise classic glamour.

Her beauty look was kept polished and relatively restrained, allowing the couture and hair transformation to take centre stage. The styling was by Mohit Rai, Tarang Agarwal and Chintan Shah.

But the fashion statement was only part of Aishwarya’s Paris outing.

One of the evening’s most talked-about moments came when she reunited with Céline Dion. The two were seen holding hands before sharing a hug and kiss, followed by an impromptu dance together on stage. Their interaction quickly became one of the standout moments from the event.

Aishwarya also shared a warm backstage moment with Eva Longoria. In a dressing-room video, the two were seen embracing while Longoria was getting ready for the show.

The actor was also spotted interacting with Bridgerton star Simone Ashley during the event, adding another celebrity encounter to an already star-studded evening.

Aishwarya’s appearance came shortly after she was spotted in Paris with her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. Her latest runway outing also adds to her long association with L’Oréal Paris, having represented the beauty brand internationally for years.

While her appearances at global fashion and beauty events have often centred on statement glamour, this Paris outing had an added element of surprise. The combination of a heavily embellished velvet couture look, burgundy hair and spontaneous celebrity moments gave Aishwarya a fashion-week appearance that extended well beyond the runway.
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On the film front, Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II in 2023, where she played Nandini and Mandakini Devi. Since then, the actor has largely remained away from film releases while continuing to make select public and international appearances.