Deepika one-up on Ash in first Cannes appearance

New Delhi: It`s a thumps up from designers to actress Deepika Padukone, who stole the limelight with a perfect attire on her very first red carpet appearance at the Cannes International Film Festival as against the experienced Aishwarya Rai who has made many a fashion faux pas. Aishwarya, who has been attending the French film festival since 2002 as the global face of L`Oreal, has been drawing flak from designers for her wrong choice of outfits and was only able to impress last year when she wore a white off-shoulder Roberto Cavalli.

The 36-year-old looked great this year as well in a violet blue fully embroidered tulle and mousseline gown from Lebanese designer Elie Saab, but 24-year-old Deepika was able to make the right choice in her first go itself. The young actress, who is attending the event as the face of liquor brand Chivas Regal, opted for a Rohit Bal -- off white, slightly embroidered saree with touches of gold, instead of a western look. "She was wearing a saree and I think that`s an appropriate outfit for any Indian diva walking an international platform. It was a nice off-white saree with a sexy blouse, making the look exude a good amount of glitz and glamour," designer Charu Parashar told IANS. Designer Nida Mahmood said: "Deepika is a beautiful woman and was looking stunning in a saree. It`s a very nice outfit that brings out the real form of a woman. It`s sensual and elegant and if you can carry it well it makes you look awesome." Deepika completed her look with a broad hand cuff, Kundan earrings and a stone encrusted clutch. According to designer Sabbah Sharma, Deepika`s decision to wear a saree for the international event was right. "Deepika has an amazing height and Indian wear looks great on her. The blouse was very sexy and is perfect for her lean, well toned body. We are a country with unique art and craftsmanship and we should be proud to flaunt it, just like she did," said Sabbah. Rohit Bal, who designed Deepika`s look for the event, had said: "As a designer, who has been observing fashion since the last 25 years, I think the only one super star at this time at Cannes is going to be Deepika Padukone. There`s nobody better than Deepika to break the rules and it`s going to attract a lot of attention." After her violet blue avatar the first day, Aishwarya opted to go black the next day. She opted for a black off-shoulder, fish cut gown with neatly tied hair at the back and shocking red lip colour. While the gown was new, Aishwarya opted for the same round solitaires she wore the previous day. Also a part of the Indian presence at Cannes is actress Mallika Sherawat, whose film "Hisss" will be screened at the festival. Away from her bold image, Mallika was dressed quite simply once in a white, self -printed, sleeve less, low neck dress, coupled with traditional Indian jewellery and the other time in a blood red, low neck dress with a white feathery coat. On both occasions she kept her hair open. IANS