Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hollywood actor Simone Ashley shared some warm moments at L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé 2026 during Paris Fashion Week. The two actors, who are among the brand’s global ambassadors, were seen greeting each other warmly, holding hands and posing together backstage.
Simone, who was walking for L’Oréal Paris for the third time, recently shared about reuniting with Aishwarya and other ambassadors, including Eva Longoria, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne.
‘It’s the moments we have backstage’
Speaking in a recent interview, Simone expressed, “I think it’s the moments we have backstage when we see each other. We don’t get to spend much time together throughout the year, so it’s always really nice when we’re reunited and can catch up with each other. It’s so exciting. This is my third year walking for them, so I know a little bit more of what to expect. I’m just super excited. It’s always one of the most fun days of the year.”
Simone Ashwini Pillai, the Hollywood actor who is of Tamil descent, is best known for playing Kate Sharma in the Netflix series Bridgerton, a role that brought her international recognition. Prior to that, she appeared as Olivia Hanan in Netflix’s Sex Education. Her film credits include The Little Mermaid, Picture This and The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which she plays Amari, an assistant to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly. The sequel also stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.
Reflecting on what these opportunities mean to her as an artiste, Simone noted, “It means a lot. It’s so wonderful. I feel very privileged that I get to express my creativity and work with a variety of creatives I look up to. And if there’s a positive message conveyed in all of that, then I’m very proud.”
Aishwarya and Simone
Videos of Aishwarya and Simone warmly greeting each other have been viral on social media off late. Several behind-the-scenes moments from the event also surfaced online. Aishwarya greeted Simone with kisses before taking a seat next to her. The two were also seen holding hands as they chatted, both dressed in black ensembles, and later posed for a picture together. During the final walk on the ramp, the two were again seen holding hands.
Aishwarya was last seen on the big screen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II in 2023, in which she played dual roles, including Nandini. The actor has not had another theatrical release since the film. She has, however, continued to make prominent international appearances. Aishwarya attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where she appeared on the red carpet in looks by Manish Malhotra and Gaurav Gupta
At Paris Fashion Week in 2026, Aishwarya closed L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé in a dramatic black couture look by Yara Shoemaker. She also debuted a striking burgundy-red hair colour for the appearance.
Source: Variety India
