Aishwarya Rai Bachchan does not do quiet entrances, and her 2026 Paris runway was no exception.

Closing L'Oreal Paris' Le Defile show at Paris Fashion Week on September 28, the actor walked out in black velvet couture, a crystal-studded cape, a diamond crown and, most dramatically of all, a brand-new head of deep burgundy-red hair. Within hours, fans had a name for it. As one comment quoted by Hindustan Times put it: "She is giving MALEFICENT."

The show: Le Defile 'Express Your Worth' at Place Joffre

The L'Oreal Paris runway, titled Express Your Worth, was staged at Place Joffre against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire, according to Hindustan Times. Aishwarya closed the show.

She shared the runway with fellow global L'Oreal Paris ambassadors including Kendall Jenner, Celine Dion, Eva Longoria, Simone Ashley, Viola Davis and Jane Fonda, as India Today reports, with Hindustan Times also naming Cara Delevingne, Kristen Bell and Mika Abdalla. India Today describes the evening as the brand's celebration of beauty, sisterhood and women's empowerment, with Celine Dion's I Am Alive playing as the show built to its finale.

The look: Yara Shoemaker velvet and a starry cape

The outfit was a custom all-black ensemble by Syrian luxury label Yara Shoemaker, styled by celebrity stylist Mohit Rai, per Hindustan Times. It came from the designer's Fall/Winter 2026-2027 couture collection.

The foundation was a two-piece black velvet gown with a sculpted bodice, a plunging neckline, a cinched waist and a floor-grazing hem. Three-dimensional fringe embroidery added movement with every step. India Today, citing the designer, says the look reimagined power dressing through sculpted velvet and gathered tulle. Hindustan Times notes that the team kept the gown close to its off-the-runway version, but removed the see-through stripes from the original design.

Then there was the cape. Draped over her shoulders and sweeping the floor, it was edged with pearl and crystal embellishments, according to Hindustan Times, while India Today describes a galaxy-inspired gradient of crystals spreading across the fabric that created a starry effect as she moved.

Accessories leaned fully regal: a diamond-encrusted crown, diamond rings and pumps.

The hair: why the burgundy-red reveal stole the show

If the cape set the mood, the hair delivered the headline. Aishwarya debuted fiery red tresses in Paris, as Hindustan Times reports, which India Today describes as deep burgundy. They were styled in a side parting with long, loose, soft waves cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

The beauty look stayed true to her signature. Hindustan Times lists winged eyeliner, a bold red lip, rouged cheeks, feathered brows and soft contouring. The result was red hair, red lips and black velvet: a high-contrast palette that reads instantly from the back row and photographs dramatically on Instagram, which is a big part of why the Maleficent comparison caught on so fast.

For anyone thinking of borrowing the idea, the takeaway from this look is balance. The colour is the statement, so the styling around it was classic: a deep side part, polished waves and a single strong lip.

How the internet reacted

The reaction was immediate. Fashion watchdog account Diet Sabya wrote, as quoted by Hindustan Times: "Illusion gown. Cape. Red hair. Red lips. Waist cinched. Pose not moving an inch. Baby, the entire formula for divaness was perfected one night in 1994, and she's still wearing it."

Fans piled in too. "They can't EVER make me dislike you, Ms Rai," one wrote. "It's her world, and we're just living in it," said another. And of course: "She is giving MALEFICENT."

Before the show, she had already set the tone. India Today reports that she arrived at the Paris venue in a sleek black overcoat, and was spotted earlier at Mumbai airport in a beige trench coat on her way to Paris. She also popped up in behind-the-scenes videos laughing with fellow ambassadors before taking the runway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Aishwarya Rai wear at Paris Fashion Week 2026?

She wore a custom black velvet gown with 3D fringe embroidery and a crystal-embellished cape by Yara Shoemaker, styled by Mohit Rai, with a diamond crown, for L'Oreal Paris' Le Defile on September 28.

What colour is Aishwarya Rai's new hair?

Aishwarya debuted deep burgundy-red hair on the Paris runway, styled with a side parting and long, soft waves.

Why are people calling Aishwarya's look Maleficent?

The combination of black velvet, a dramatic cape, a crown, red hair and a bold red lip prompted fans online to compare it to the Disney villain, with one comment reading "She is giving MALEFICENT."

Cover photo: Hpeterswald / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0