‘Aishwarya Rai represents us at Cannes every year; all we can say is what she wore wasn’t right?’: Renuka Shahane schools trolls, says, ‘shut your mouth’

While a large section of fans has always celebrated Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's elegance, a smaller, more critical group often mocked or body-shamed her—particularly after she embraced motherhood.

Renuka Shahane takes a stand for Aishwarya Rai. (Photo: Renuka Shahane/Aishwarya Rai/Instagram)

After making her Cannes debut in 2002, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became a regular fixture at the prestigious film festival. In 2003, she made history as the first Indian actress to represent L’Oréal Paris internationally. Since then, she has graced the red carpet year after year—consistently making headlines for her fashion choices and poise. While a large section of fans has always celebrated her elegance, a smaller, more critical group often mocked or body-shamed her—particularly after she embraced motherhood. Aishwarya, however, never reacted to the negativity and instead chose to remain dignified and private.

‘Just shut your mouth’

Now, actress Renuka Shahane has spoken out in Aishwarya’s defense, urging people to show respect. In an interview with Zoom, the Hum Aapke Hain Koun star said, “Should we not celebrate her consistent achievements over the years? It doesn’t take a minute for a big company to drop someone, and yet she’s been a global brand ambassador for L’Oréal for years. She represents us every single time. And all we can think about is, ‘Oh, what she wore wasn’t right’? Please don’t do that. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just shut your mouth.”

Renuka also highlighted how female actors, in particular, face constant scrutiny in the age of social media. “With the advent of social media, it has become terrible to live amid constant judgment and pressure. It’s very tough for actors—especially female actors. After becoming a mother, there’s this unrealistic expectation that you must instantly look as slim as before,” she said.

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When Abhishek Bachchan broke his silence

Aishwarya faced intense trolling for her post-pregnancy weight after the birth of her daughter Aaradhya in 2011. Though she never addressed the criticism, her husband Abhishek Bachchan once told DNA, “I think it’s extremely insensitive. Yes, she’s a public figure, but people forget she’s also a woman and a mother. There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. I would never speak that way about any woman—it’s not graceful.”

Aishwarya at Cannes 2025

Despite years of scrutiny, Aishwarya continues to command attention on the red carpet. At Cannes 2025, she turned heads with two striking looks. Her first was an ivory Manish Malhotra Banarasi saree paired with a bold sindoor—a powerful ode to her Indian roots. Many interpreted it as her subtle response to ongoing rumours about her marriage.

For her second appearance, she wore a custom black velvet gown by Gaurav Gupta, featuring an ivory brocade cape embroidered with Sanskrit shlokas—seamlessly blending tradition and modern couture.

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