Alia Bhatt has responded with calm confidence after social media users claimed she was “ignored” by international paparazzi during one of her recent appearances at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.

The actor, who attended Cannes as global ambassador for L'Oreal Paris, became the subject of online chatter after clips from the red carpet circulated online, with some users alleging that photographers did not recognise or call out to her during the event. The moment quickly sparked trolling on social media, with several comments suggesting that “no one noticed” the Bollywood star at the prestigious film festival.

Addressing one such remark directly, Alia gave a sharp yet graceful reply. Sharing a reel featuring her ivory silk saree-gown look from Cannes, the actor responded to a user who commented, “What a pity, no one noticed you.”

“Why pity love? You noticed me :),” Alia replied, a response that soon gained traction online and was widely praised by fans.

The conversation around the actor’s Cannes appearance intensified further after multiple social media posts debated celebrity visibility at global events and how Indian stars are perceived internationally.

Soon after, several film personalities stepped in to support Alia.

Sonu Sood shared a strongly worded note on X without directly naming the actor, though many online users linked the post to the criticism aimed at Alia.

“When one of our own walks onto an international stage, it should be a moment of pride, not a reason to search for flaws,” Sonu wrote.

He added that achievements do not always need “validation from cameras, headlines, or strangers” to hold value and urged people to choose encouragement over trolling.

“In a world addicted to trolling, choose encouragement. Because people who are busy building dreams don’t have time to pull others down,” he wrote while concluding the note.

Along with Sonu, Aly Goni also defended the actor on Instagram. Calling out the negativity surrounding Alia’s Cannes appearance, he wrote that it was “sad” to see people trying to pull down someone who had worked hard to represent India on a global platform.

Alia’s Cannes wardrobe has meanwhile continued to dominate online fashion conversations. Her appearances included a peach-toned bustier gown and an ivory silk saree-gown, both of which generated major buzz across entertainment and fashion pages.

This year marks Alia’s second consecutive appearance at the Cannes Film Festival as L'Oreal Paris’ global ambassador. The 79th edition of the festival began on May 12 and will continue until May 23.