Karan Johar, Jacqueline Fernandez, and More Play 'Too Glam to Give a Cannes'

As the French Riviera lights up for cinema’s most celebrated festival, The Hollywood Reporter India decided to take a stylish detour. Amid the glitz of couture gowns, iconic red carpets and grand premieres, we caught up with some of your favourite celebrities and got them to unwind with a round of rapid-fire fun. From idolising Indian style icons to busting festival myths, Too Glam to Give a Cannes hosted by Sneha Menon Desai spills all the tea. Whether it’s Jacqueline’s admiration for Tom Cruise or Karan Johar finding comfort in quiet hotel nights post-red carpet, the series offers unfiltered charm, one candid answer at a time.

THR: If you had to pick—red carpet or afterparty?

Chhaya Kadam: Afterparty. Because you just pose for a while on the red carpet. At the afterparty, you can meet your friends however you like. I enjoy that.
Karan Johar: Red carpet, always. At the afterparty, I go to sleep. I get anxious at big parties. I’m happiest in my hotel room, ordering room service and passing out.
Jacqueline Fernandez: Red carpet. Memories.
Nitanshi Goel: Red carpet.

THR: One celebrity you're really hoping to bump into at Cannes?

Jacqueline Fernandez: There’s someone here right now whose work I’ve grown up on—Tom Cruise. He’s here for Mission: Impossible. Let’s see... You never know.
Tillotama Shome: It would be lovely to just see Payal Kapadia from afar. It fills our hearts to witness her journey—from attending as a young film student to now. Just seeing her from a distance and blowing a kiss would be enough.
Karan Johar: Do you know who I really want to meet—who I’ve never met? Payal Kapadia. Can someone make that happen? I want to tell her she’s looking stunning. I’m so proud of her. She’s a jury member! She broke through last year and has created all the ripples any filmmaker dreams of. I’m just so excited—I really want to hang out with her.
Nitanshi Goel: I would love, love, love to meet Alia Bhatt ma’am. And the cast of Homebound [Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa].

THR: What’s the biggest misconception about Cannes?

Chhaya Kadam: That it’s all about fashion and red carpets. That’s not true. I see people immersed in films from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. It’s very much about cinema.
Jacqueline Fernandez: That it’s superficial. It’s actually a haven for film lovers. It’s not all thrill and fancy—there’s so much to learn here.
Karan Johar: That it’s just a fashion show—it’s not. It’s a legit film festival. Some of the greatest films ever made have debuted here. And when you’re here, you’re here for a reason. So go on that red carpet.
Anushka Sen: That it’s chaotic. It’s not! It’s super fun—you should come here.

THR: Who are you wearing, and how long did it take you to decide?

Chhaya Kadam: I don’t think too much about my outfit. My stylist, Neha Chaudry, styled me last time and people loved it. So I asked her for 5–6 looks and just picked one without even looking.
Karan Johar: It took very little time. Eka [Lakhani], my stylist, brought some fabric samples from Christelli—they do beautifully tailored suits. I’d been wanting to wear this kind of check print on salmon pink, like you pointed out. I wanted to look serious, but with a fashionable twist. This was a ‘blender boat’—a mix of both.
Anushka Sen: I didn’t take any time—once I saw the sketch, I knew. I wanted a touch of India in all my looks. This is by Duchess Kumari. I’ve received so many compliments here—I’m loving how I feel in it. Shout-out to the designer.
Nitanshi Goel: I’m wearing Papa Don’t Preach. It took me maybe 15–20 minutes to decide. I knew I wanted the butterfly pose and everything. It was that quick!

THR: Who’s your Indian style icon?

Karan Johar: Mr Amitabh Bachchan—he’s the coolest ever. And after him, Shah Rukh Khan.
Chhaya Kadam: I really like Vidya Balan and Rekhaji.
Nancy Tyagi: I like everyone—I have lots of favourites—but especially Priyanka Chopra ma’am.
Nitanshi Goel: Aishwarya Rai ma’am.