Pakistani Star Sanam Saeed Turns Heads at Cannes 2026 in Stunning Peacock-Inspired Outfit

New Delhi: At the 79th Cannes Film Festival, Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed made her debut at the festival in a custom Hussain Rehar ensemble on Saturday and while  walking the red carpet she paid tribute to the late actress Shamim Ara, who was also referred to as 'The Tragic Beauty'.

What did Sanam wear?

Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed, who is famous for 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai', on Saturday arrived on the red carpet with a white flowers in her hair, a peacock dress, and full desi swag.

With her outfit, Sanam paid tribute to the late actress Shamim Ara, who was also referred to as 'The Tragic Beauty'.

The actress was officially honoured with the South Asian Women Excellence in Cinema and Arts Award in a program launched by US studios. This debut became special and historic for her.

Was Sanam's custom outfit Peacock inspired?

For her Cannes debut, Sanam opted for a custom outfit by designer Hussain Rehar, inspired by dreamy white peacocks. The outfit's flowy white silhouette was embellished with silver shimmer, giving it a regal and ethereal vibe. The intricate work was also intricately crafted.

With this look, Sanam paid tribute to Pakistan's "The Tragic Beauty," Shamim Ara, who earned this name for her roles. Just like Meena Kumari is Bollywood's "Tragedy Queen," Shamim is also an iconic actress in Pakistan.

What are the details of the outfit?

The outfit was designed with a high-neck halter style detail and a deep neck at the back. On the upper portion of which fine mirror work, Mukesh and Zardozi work was done. By giving it a light balloon style, detailed work was done on the hem, while the 3D floral detailing with flared layers towards the bottom made it more dramatic.

Along with this, she is wearing a heavy pleated gharara or ghagra, on which the border was kept wide in silver along with fine lines. Due to which it looked different from the upper portion, so by carrying the dupatta or trail on her hands, the beauty added more spice to the look.

As for the hairstyle, the actress went with a sleek high bun adorned with white flowers. Her makeup featured soft brown tones, with smoky eyeshadow making her eyes pop.

How many artisans prepared the dress?

According to information provided on the designer's official Instagram page, the outfit took approximately 2,354 hours for 50 artisans to create. The entire look features white peacock-inspired patterns, accentuated by silver embellishments. From the neckline to the border, the sheen was kept exquisitely fine, and it stood out on the red carpet.

What is Mukesh embroidery on the dress?

Mukesh work is a traditional embroidery technique, particularly associated with the craftsmanship of Lucknow. It involves hand-applying tiny metallic threads or foil pieces to fabric, creating a subtle sheen and shimmer effect. This work is typically done on flowy fabrics like georgette, silk, and net.