The Cannes Film Festival red carpet has always been synonymous with spectacle. Every year, celebrities arrive in striking couture, dazzling jewellery, and looks put together to be remembered. Yet sometimes, the most powerful part of a look is not the grandiose, but the craftsmanship and artistry effortlessly embedded into it.
When Alia Bhatt arrived at Cannes in a custom creation by That Antiquepiece, styled by Rhea Kapoor, the conversation extended beyond silhouette and styling. At the heart of the ensemble was the delicate hand-painted artistry of Basuri Chokshi – work that carried texture, emotion, and the unmistakable intimacy of something created by hands.
In an era dominated by speed and digital perfection, Chokshi’s artistry brought something rare to one of fashion’s most photographed stages – an artist’s imprint imbued with passion, craftsmanship, and culture.
A self-taught artist specialising in wall murals and paintings, Basuri studied interior design for three years in Ahmedabad before fully immersing herself in the world of art. Naturally inclined towards creativity from an early age, she found painting to be both instinctive and deeply fulfilling.
She describes her creative language as “quiet yet present” – one deeply informed by nature and its imperfect beauty. Muted palettes, tactile textures, shifting light, and moments of stillness often shape the emotional landscape of her work. Adding more to it she says,“I think that freedom allowed me to develop a language that felt very personal and instinctive.”
The vision behind the outfit was to build an emotional and visual world inspired by the French Riviera – sunlit coastlines, native botanicals, lavender fields, and the soft harmony between land, sea, and sky. Once the concept was finalised, the artwork was entirely hand-painted in layers, balancing artistic expression with movement and wearability.
Recalling her first reaction to the Cannes collaboration, Basuri shares, “I was honestly thrilled, but also quite naive about the scale of what it would become. At the time, I was simply immersed in the process of creating and wanted to do justice to the vision. I don’t think I fully understood how far the work would travel or how many people it would resonate with. Seeing it unfold on such a recognised global platform felt surreal and deeply humbling.”
In a world increasingly driven by speed, technology, and instant production, hand-painted artistry carries even greater significance. For Basuri, creating by hand is a way of preserving human perspective as it reflects the mind’s creative instinct in its rawest, most honest form. Her collaboration with Yash Patil and Rhea Kapoor stands as a thoughtful translation of ideas into something deeply rooted in emotion, individuality, and craft. “In a world moving towards instant results and rapid consumption, handmade work carries time, patience, imperfections, and emotions within it. You can sense the human touch behind every brushstroke, and I think people subconsciously long for that authenticity now more than ever”, shares the artist.
Following the Cannes milestone, Basuri says that she hopes to further explore projects where art transcends traditional formats – across fashion, interiors, textiles, and immersive spaces. “At the core of it, I simply want to keep creating work that feels tactile, human, and deeply connected to nature, memory, and emotion”, the artist shared.
In many ways, Basuri Chokshi’s work at La Croisette represents a larger shift in fashion and art today – a renewed appreciation for pieces that are personal, intentional, and made with care. Her hand-painted artistry reminds us that soulful handcraft still holds immense value in an era consumed by speed and immediacy.
