Cannes Turns Desi: Janhvi, Shikhar Steal Spotlight

Janhvi Kapoor didn’t just arrive at Cannes this year she brought a whole wave of desi elegance with her. Ahead of the premiere of her film Homebound, she was spotted soaking in the Riviera vibe with boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya, sister Khushi Kapoor, director Karan Johar, and social media regular Orry. The gang looked relaxed and radiant, with candid clicks already making rounds online. While Janhvi kept things subtle yet stunning in her beachside photos, Shikhar and Khushi added their own flair to the pre-premiere buzz.

Karan Johar, dressed in a peach checkered suit that screamed Cannes confidence, posted, “Yes we Cannes! Day 1,” making his arrival loud and clear. Actor Ishaan Khatter, who stars alongside Janhvi in Homebound, also shared his excitement with a minimalist “Bonjour festival de Cannes 🤍.” The film, a nostalgic tale rooted in rural North India, has been directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and is competing in the prestigious Un Certain Regard category this year. The unexpected twist? Martin Scorsese himself is backing the project as executive producer.

Back home, Janhvi is fresh off the success of her role in the Telugu film Devara with Jr. NTR, where she played the bold and emotional Thangam. Now she’s gearing up for a sports drama opposite Ram Charan, continuing her Southern streak. While her Cannes presence is all about global exposure, Janhvi seems equally grounded in her Indian film graph, blending mainstream appeal with layered characters.

Cannes has seen its share of fashion and films, but this year, the desi flavor feels different less about just showing up and more about showing off real cinematic substance. With Homebound gaining global praise and Janhvi walking both the red carpet and regional film sets with ease, this might just be her most defining season yet.