After much anticipation and a flurry of speculation, Academy Award-winning actor and Cannes 2025 jury member Halle Berry made a dazzling appearance at the Chopard Universe Gala, held during the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The Hollywood icon stepped out in a custom creation from Gupta’s Autumn-Winter 2024 Couture collection Jyotirgamaya. Her appearance was not only a personal fashion moment but also a global spotlight on Indian couture.
She wore a Bordeaux (wine-coloured) spiral gown by ace Indian couturier to bring out the architectural drama with fluid sensuality at the luxury event. The strapless silhouette featured a corseted bodice and sculptural draping paired with a sweeping, wave-like trail for an elemental aesthetic.
Crafted in a rich maroon hue, the gown added elegant glam finesse and looked beautiful on the 58-year-old Hollywood star, who styled the look with pointed stilettos, ruby drop earrings, and two matching rings. Berry’s accessories added just the right measure of sparkle to the look. Her softly waved bob and understated makeup invoked classic Hollywood style, allowing the ensemble to take centre stage.
Due to last-minute changes prompted by Cannes’ newly imposed dress code, Berry couldn’t wear the outfit for the red carpet event. So she chose the Chopard Universe Gala to make a bold statement at the high-profile event. Her appearance comes at a time when the Cannes Film Festival has introduced stricter sartorial guidelines with a ban on overt nudity, voluptuous gowns, and excessive trains. Her choice to wear the look off the official red carpet, yet within the festival’s inner circle, signals both respect for the rules and a subtle defiance through design.
Designer Gaurav Gupta took to Instagram shortly after the event to share photos of Berry in the gown, captioning the post, “Halle Berry at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for the Chopard Universe Dinner.” (SIC) The post was quickly picked up across fashion media, with many lauding the moment as another major milestone in Gupta’s growing red carpet journey.
Meanwhile, on the official red carpet, Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter made his Cannes debut at the premiere of his film Homebound, also in a custom Gaurav Gupta look. The actor wore a deep Bordeaux coloured velvet bandhgala with a contemporary take on the traditional Indian high-collared jacket. The designer jacket was embellished with Celtic knot embroidery in black metal zardozi and intricate handwork blending Indian craft with global fashion aesthetic. The look, styled by Alexander Roth, was completed with a black wrap silk shirt and sharply tailored trousers, creating a clean yet expressive silhouette.
Sharing the behind the scenes of his outfit, the designer wrote on his Instagram, ““Collaborating with Ishaan for this special moment felt instinctive. Ishaan carries a quiet strength; he represents a new generation of Indian voices on the global stage. This look was about distilling that presence into form: sharp, subtle, and deeply crafted.” (SIC)
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