Madhuri defends Aishwarya Rai against trolls

Madhuri Dixit says Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has represented India with pride worldwide and should not be reduced to looks or age

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a global star who has made her country proud with her achievements, says Madhuri Dixit, coming out in support of her Devdas co-star who faced trolling over her appearance on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival.

Aishwarya, a Cannes regular for more than two decades, became the target of online trolling and body-shaming after images and videos from the 2026 red carpet circulated on social media.

Madhuri said that Aishwarya has built a legacy by representing India on the global stage and trolling her over her appearance sends the wrong message to youngsters.

“She has been going there for 20 years. She has done the whole country proud. She is a global star. As a Miss World, she has done so much for the country.”

“You cannot reduce her to a number on a scale or a number on the dress or the size or a number on the calendar years. You cannot reduce her to that. She is beautiful. She looks beautiful but she is beautiful inside,” Madhuri told PTI.

The actor and Aishwarya worked together in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period romance drama Devdas with Shah Rukh Khan.

In fact, Aishwarya first attended Cannes in 2002 for the premiere of the film alongside Shah Rukh. 

Her appearance on the red carpet in a traditional yellow saree drew widespread attention back then and she is often seen as India’s representation at the festival.

Madhuri criticised the negative social media discourse around Aishwarya’s appearance.

I think people have to realise that when you do these kinds of comments, what kind of message are you sending to the youngsters today? That your worth is on how you look, not on your achievements. I think this is a completely wrong message being sent. 

— Madhuri Dixit