From Dubai to Cannes 2025: India’s Parul Gulati breaks fashion boundaries
Nish Hair founder fuses identity and innovation at world’s grandest film festival
DUBAI: Entrepreneur, actress and Nish Hair founder Parul Gulati made her powerful red carpet debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, blending heritage and high fashion in a spectacle that spanned the event’s opening and closing ceremonies.
Representing both India and Dubai, Gulati’s appearances were not just fashion statements but expressions of resilience, innovation and cultural pride.
Hair meets haute
On the opening night of Cannes 2025, Gulati walked the red carpet for the world premiere of Eddington, Ari Aster’s much-anticipated film featuring Hollywood heavyweights Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Pedro Pascal. She wore an avant-garde outfit unlike any other seen at the festival – a sculptural gown made entirely from human hair.
Designed by the creative duo Mohit Rai and Riddhi Bansal, the ensemble was a tribute to her own brand, Nish Hair. The outfit was meticulously crafted over 30 days by 12 artisans, turning hair – a symbol of identity and transformation – into wearable art. The dramatic silhouette and rich texture celebrated the material that launched her business journey and global following.
“This wasn’t just about red carpet glamour,” Gulati said. “It was about wearing my journey – literally. Hair gave me purpose. I wanted it to speak louder than words ever could.”
Fashion as narrative
Founded in India and now thriving in Dubai, Nish Hair has grown into a leading name in luxury hair extensions. The brand's first international flagship opened earlier this year in Al Seef, one of Dubai’s most iconic heritage districts. Offering 100% human hair extensions, wigs, and toppers, Nish Hair’s expansion symbolises a growing South Asian entrepreneurial presence in the UAE.
At Cannes, Parul’s message went beyond entrepreneurship. Her fashion told a story – from origins rooted in self-doubt and survival to a crescendo of creative expression. At the closing ceremony, she returned with an equally mesmerising ensemble: a Banarasi tissue saree encased in resin, designed once again by Riddhi Bansal and styled by Mohit Rai. The saree caught the light like molten metal, shimmering with a futuristic sheen.
This final look married India’s centuries-old weaving traditions with cutting-edge techniques, transforming a classic into something unapologetically avant-garde. In an emotional post, Gulati reflected on how watching La La Land during the pandemic helped her survive a period of uncertainty in her acting career. “Emma Stone’s words – ‘Maybe I’m not good enough’ – hit me hard back then. Now, I watched her on the Cannes screen. That moment completed something in me,” she shared.
Red carpet renaissance
Gulati’s Cannes 2025 appearance redefined what the festival runway could represent. More than a fashion moment, it was a celebration of tenacity and transformation. As both an Indian actress and Dubai-based founder, her presence blended the dynamism of two worlds – Bollywood’s cultural richness and Dubai’s futuristic drive.
Her brand Nish Hair is now recognised as a go-to name in the luxury hair space, with thousands of customers across continents. Whether it’s clip-ins, halo extensions, or full wigs, the label is about confidence, accessibility, and self-expression. The Dubai expansion marked a strategic move, bringing her products to a new audience in the Gulf and further positioning the UAE as a launchpad for creative South Asian ventures.
At Cannes, the audience saw a new kind of storytelling – one stitched in silk and resin, built on business dreams and personal trials. From a dress made entirely from hair to a saree that shimmered like a sci-fi artefact, Parul Gulati proved that fashion isn’t just about trends. It’s about truth, technology, and transformation.
Her debut – visually arresting and emotionally grounded – was a reminder that the red carpet can be a place for ideas as much as aesthetics. With her dual identities proudly on display, Gulati carried not only her name but the narratives of thousands who dare to dream differently.