Just when everyone was feverishly debating whether she can or not, the not- so- yummymummy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan showed she still Cannes. The Cannes veteran made her first appearance at this year’s edition of the film festival on Thursday at the AmfAR Cinema Against Aids gala, looking scintillating in an off- white chikan sari teamed with a gold embroidered Nehru jacket by designer- duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. With her clever styling and clean make- up and hair, the 38- year- old former beauty queen successfully silenced those critical of her postpregnancy weight gain. Wearing a sari that was draped in a way that hid most of her flab, which she admittedly seems in no hurry to get rid of, a glowing Aishwarya looked comfortable and content. Although each of her 10 outings at the renowned film festival have been equally anticipated, commented upon and shredded to pieces in red- carpet analyses, the speculation surrounding her appearance this year, with Baby B in tow, was unprecedented, courtesy of the severe media scrutiny on her weight gain. But the Devdas star seems unfazed, opting for comfortable clothes that complement her and teaming them with her trademark air of confidence. Earlier in the day at Cannes, Aishwarya was seen in a black and white maxi by Australian designer Angelo Katsapis, wearing minimal make- up, with her loose wavy hair tumbling over her shoulders. She paired the dress with a full- sleeved cardigan — to hide her flabby arms, perhaps — pretty much setting the tone for the things to come.Her sartorial choices have proved Aishwarya is in no mood to fend off her detractors and only wants to enjoy her two- day break at Cannes. less While Aishwarya is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in the world, her recent weight gain had sparked a campaign of sorts against her. An unflattering photograph taken at a recent party thrown by Nita and Mukesh Ambani, that captured her double chin, sparked a cruel attack on her by critics and fans alike after it was leaked on the Internet A website even posted a video of the star called ‘ Aishwarya Rai’s shocking weight gain’, rudely employing the trumpeting of elephants as sound effects.Besides scoring numerous hits, such videos also invited a flurry of unkind remarks, with people deriding Aishwarya left, right and centre, wondering why she couldn’t follow in the footsteps of Victoria Beckham and Angelina Jolie, who returned to their skinny frame soon after their pregnancy Aishwarya, however, has courted the criticism with elan and poise. And as the red carpet is the ultimate platform for settling scores and kicking off new trends in fashion and beauty, Aishwarya has once again showed how she can do both with class. With her clever styling and clean make- up and hair, the 38- year- old former beauty queen successfully silenced those critical of her post- pregnancy weight gain