Salwar-kameez at Cannes 2024: Punjabi singer Sunanda Sharma dazzles

At the Cannes, considered the biggest such star-studded affair in the world where film industry’s luminaries including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, make an appearance wearing extravagant gowns and flashy western outfits, Sharma made heads turn in an elegant ivory suit.

Her outfit, an all ivory chanderi ensemble, consisted of a heavily layered but plain kameez with full sleeves, a dupatta with intricate embroidery at the borders which she draped across the body and a dhoti salwaar. She completed the look with a maang tikka on forehead and a nose ring.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, Sharma, who comes from Punjab’s small town Fatehgarh Churian of border district Gurdaspur, said that her look at Cannes was inspired from the graceful, long-necked swan. “The inspiration to wear a white suit came from beautiful bird hans (swan). My decision to wear a traditional suit at Cannes was a tribute to all Punjabis and our countrymen that they should embrace their identity with pride. No gown or any other western look came to my mind other than a suit when I got the invite to attend the Cannes,” she said.

Sharma said that she attended Cannes at the invitation of the organizers and also performed at the special “Bharat Parv” celebrations.

Known for her numbers including “Billi Akh“, “Sandal“, “Tere Naal Nachna” among others, Sharma said that her aim motive was to present the simplicity and beauty of Punjabi women on the international platform. “I did not put any special effort into creating this look. This is how I or any Punjabi woman dresses up for a special occasion. I never wanted any artificiality or to look like someone that I am not in real life,” said Sharma.

Sharma said that she attended Cannes at the invitation of the organizers and also performed at the special “Bharat Parv” celebrations which were dedicated to the Indian film industry. Sharma began her acting career with the film Sajjan Singh Rangroot with co-stars Diljit Dosanjh and Yograj Singh.

“Fatehgarh Churian to Cannes.. aam jahe ghar di kudi, supne ehne khaas kadon ton lain lag payi, pata nahi laggeya (Never got to know when the girl next door started dreaming so big),” wrote Sharma in her post on Instagram.