From a stunning look inspired by Kasuti embroidery from Karnataka to a gorgeous red carpet outfit focused on vintage Indian textiles, actor Disha Madan served several looks at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Donning a total of seven gorgeous outfits, the artiste from Bengaluru shone bright on her second visit to the prestigious film festival. With preparations having begun as early as last December, Disha and her team of skill designers worked meticulously on each artistic outfit. The actor opens up to Provoke about her culturally rich looks, her experience at Cannes, and more…

Give us a breakdown of all the outfits that you wore at Cannes. 
We worked on a total of seven outfits, and the ideation began as early as December last year. I consciously chose to work with three designers- Nadah by Namrita, Aruha by Rashmi, and Niharika Vivek by Niharika and Divya- because each of them brought a unique artistic perspective. Namrita creates beautiful silhouettes, Rashmi has incredible knowledge of Indian mythology and heritage, and I had always admired Niharika and Divya’s craftsmanship. The first blue outfit was designed as an easy, breezy arrival look- something relaxed yet elegant. It featured intricate zardozi work and fabric sourced through a collaboration with Mysore Saree Udyog, an iconic Bangalore-based textile house. The second look was inspired by Kasuti embroidery from Karnataka. I always wanted to pay tribute to Indian embroidery traditions, and this outfit became one of the strongest representations of that vision. We paired Banjara Kasuti work on the corset with a monochromatic black silhouette, allowing the embroidery and North Karnataka jewellery to stand out beautifully. The third look, my red carpet outfit, focused on sustainability and vintage Indian textiles. We used vintage silks and sarees that are often discarded once damaged, highlighting how Indian fabrics can be repurposed into modern couture while preserving their heritage and value. The Yakshagana-inspired look was Rashmi’s brainchild. I grew up watching Yakshagana performances and learning about expression through dance. Translating that dramatic art form into couture was deeply fulfilling. The purple dress was a tribute to traditional South Indian Jadau jewellery. The Dashavatara outfit celebrated Pen Kalamkari and the stories of the ten avatars. Inspired by a saree my mother found in Kalahasti, the look incorporated hand embroidery, beadwork, threadwork, and vegetable-dyed fabrics. Every detail, from the Prabhavalis to the warrior-inspired blouse, was crafted to highlight the power and mythology behind each avatar. The final orchid jewellery look was more experimental and street-style inspired. Niharika and Divya designed their first long corset silhouette for this look, while the jewellery became the true highlight. Divya handcrafted these pieces using real orchids grown in her backyard garden, preserving the flowers and transforming them into delicate jewellery with precious stones. Every outfit was built from scratch.

The red carpet outfit received a lot of appreciation – tell us more about it.
The red carpet look truly deserved the appreciation it received because working with vintage silks is incredibly challenging. The sarees we sourced from vendors selling pre-loved textiles were not in perfect condition. Many portions were stained, torn, or unusable, so we couldn’t simply drape or recreate them into a silhouette directly. Instead, we had to work in reverse- first identifying which parts of the fabric could still be used and then designing the silhouette around those surviving pieces. We had a rough vision for the outfit, but the real challenge was making everything look cohesive despite the limitations of the fabric. Niharika’s team, especially Kalim ji, put immense effort into bringing the look to life. Even the smallest usable pieces were carefully repurposed elsewhere in the garment so that nothing went to waste. We made a conscious effort to utilise every possible part of both sarees. One of my biggest dreams has always been to showcase how beautifully Indian textiles can adapt to contemporary Western silhouettes while still preserving their heritage.

All your outfits and social media posts reflected your connection to Karnataka. Was it a conscious decision to pay tribute to your home state?
Even the last time I went to Cannes, it was a very conscious and intentional decision to represent Karnataka. For me, storytelling is extremely important, and it matters deeply that I speak about where I come from because I’m incredibly proud of it. I have never wanted to hide my roots- in fact, they are such a big part of my identity. South India, especially Karnataka, has such rich culture, heritage, craftsmanship, and art forms that much of the world still hasn’t fully seen or experienced. I don’t look at it as a responsibility placed on me, but rather as something personal to who I am. I believe where you come from and how you represent it to the world says a lot about your identity, and for me, staying connected to my roots has always been important. That’s why, no matter where I go, I will always try to shed light on Karnataka, South India, and the incredible artisans and craftsmanship that originate from here. I want to celebrate these stories globally and talk about their cultural significance. When international brands are constantly drawing inspiration from Indian culture, heritage, and craftsmanship, I believe it’s time for us to set our own trends and present our stories to the world in our own voice.

How was it walking the red carpet?
Walking the red carpet is always overwhelming because it comes with so many mixed emotions. You spend nearly six months working on every detail- the outfits, the makeup, the hair- pouring so much heart, effort, and emotion into it, and then it all comes together in just a few moments on the carpet. At the same time, it’s an incredibly fulfilling feeling because people are admiring and appreciating all the hard work that has gone into it. I remember someone once asked me what goes through my mind while walking the carpet. Honestly, on most days, my mind is occupied with everything around me- the people in my life, the environment I’m in, the challenges I’m facing, and the milestones I’m chasing. But when I’m on the carpet, I think about myself. I think about how important that moment is for me, for my journey, my career, and the brand I’m building for myself. It becomes a very personal moment where I quietly acknowledge everything I’ve worked for and remind myself that I’ve done a good job. So yes, it’s a mix of emotions- excitement, gratitude, pressure, and most importantly, pride in myself and everything I’ve achieved to reach that point.

Take us through the experience of getting ready for the red carpet.
I always travel with my own team when it comes to hair, makeup, and a videographer to shoot content. One of the looks took nearly four hours just for the hair because we added multiple extensions to create a long princess braid, and every motif had to be hand-stitched individually. A huge shoutout to my hairstylist Savita, who patiently worked through every tiny detail to make the vision come alive.
My makeup artist, Teju, probably felt just as nervous as I did before the carpet because he wanted everything to look perfect. My videographer Manu deserves a completely different level of credit because the content creation process was just as intense as the fashion process. We worked on the edits till 3 AM almost every single day. I had planned the songs and visual mood for every look nearly six months in advance because I wanted each reel and each piece of content to feel intentional and cinematic. Even after long days filled with the carpet, film screenings, events, and social gatherings, we would come back late at night and still sit together editing content till early morning so the reels could go up on time. It truly became a nonstop creative process.

Did you get to watch any films at the festival?
The film whose red carpet I walked for was Karma, a French film, and it was truly wonderful. I got the opportunity to watch it alongside the cast and crew, which made the experience even more special. By the time the climax arrived, I almost had tears in my eyes- it was such an emotional and hard-hitting film. Once the screening ended, there was nearly a ten-minute standing ovation for the entire team. The director and cast were visibly emotional, and it was beautiful to witness their joy and pride at achieving something as prestigious as premiering at Cannes.
I was also really looking forward to watching a few other films at the festival, but unfortunately, many screenings overlapped with my schedule and other events. One of them was September 21, in which Kannada actress Priyanka Upendra plays a very important role. Another was the Malayalam film Balan the Boy, which I’m equally excited about. Although I couldn’t attend those screenings at Cannes, I’m definitely looking forward to watching both films in theatres.

You’ve always spoken about how supportive your husband Shashank is. Please tell us more about his role in your life. 
For me, achieving all of this would not have been possible without my family’s unwavering support. Staying away from home for 10 days isn’t easy, especially with two young children- my son is seven and my daughter is four. My husband, Shashank, has been my biggest pillar of strength. Every time I tell him about a new opportunity, he simply says, “Close your eyes and go for it.” He never questions the time commitment or the challenges that may come with it, he just supports me wholeheartedly and believes we’ll figure everything out together. I’m equally grateful to my parents, who are incredibly hands-on grandparents. While Shashank is at work, my kids are lovingly cared for by them. They truly are reliving parenthood with my children- taking them out for ice cream, to play areas, and making sure they’re always happy and cared for.

As for your acting projects, will we see you in anything in the near future?
After attending the Cannes Film Festival last year, I came back with a strong passion for being a part of films that belong to the festival circuit. Not because I value one kind of cinema over another- I truly believe every film is special in its own way. What deeply moved me about the films I watched at festivals was how meaningful and layered they were. They stay with you long after you leave the theatre, always leaving you with something to reflect on. That experience makes me want to work on projects that feel equally personal and impactful. I was fortunate to find that opportunity with writer-director Swati Shetty, on a short film titled The Corner House, where I play the lead. We officially unveiled the trailer on June 12. The film has already been submitted to several indie and international film festivals, and while the selection process takes time, and with announcements expected across July, August, and September- we’re eagerly looking forward to hearing back.

Any dream roles or genres? 
Honestly, no! However, I would absolutely love to do something really massy and larger-than-life. I remember saying this before as well. I can totally imagine myself working with Yash sir in KGF, standing there with short hair, looking all intense and gangster-like, picking up a gun while he gives me that one powerful look. I think that would be incredibly cool. I feel a role like that would challenge me in a completely different way. It’s raw, gritty, and packed with attitude- something very different from what people may expect from me. I’d also love to do high-energy action sequences. Since I come from a dance background, I feel my flexibility and physicality could really add to action choreography. Getting into proper fight sequences and exploring an intense, powerful side on screen is something I would genuinely like to do.