There is a specific kind of energy on the Croisette during the Cannes Film Festival that has long served as a barometer for global cultural influence—a mix of high-stakes glamour, endless flashbulbs, and heavy expectation. But when our founder, Vratika Gupta, stepped onto the red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals, she didn't look like someone trying to fit into the French Riviera’s storied history. She looked like she was rewriting it.

Flanked by her husband, Nakul Aggarwal—the tech entrepreneur who scaled BrowserStack into a global unicorn—the mind behind Maison Sia brought something distinct to Cannes: a sense of unapologetic, modern Indian identity. We caught up with her to bypass the usual red-carpet small talk and get into the real story behind the look, the weight of the shared ambition, and what it actually takes for an Indian woman to command a world stage on her own terms.

Who designed your Cannes red carpet look, and what are the outfit details?

Manish Malhotra designed it, and honestly, when we first sat down, I told him I didn't want to look like I was wearing a costume just for a photo op. He came up with this brilliant, poetic concept inspired by the mystery of the night sky and old folklore—where darkness isn't heavy or gloomy, but represents intuition and transformation.

When I actually put the gown on, what blew me away was how he executed that contrast. The bodice is this incredibly sharp, heavy crystal corset packed with hand-embroidered black and silver crystal work that catches the light like actual starlight. But then it completely softens into these cascading, fluid layers of hand-shaped organza. He even wove marbled textures through the skirt to look like moving storm clouds. The palette was intentionally kept monochromatic with shades of black, silver and grey because I wanted the actual texture and craftsmanship to do the talking, not some loud, gimmicky color. To complete the vibe, I wore custom high jewellery that matched that dark, celestial mood, and classic Christian Louboutin heels. It felt cinematic, but most importantly, it actually felt like me.

How special was it to share this massive global milestone with your husband, Nakul?

Honestly, it was incredibly grounding. People look at the flashbulbs and see pure glamour, but Nakul and I just see the invisible miles it took to get here. We joke about starting out with a chance meeting on a Delhi train, but the reality of managing three kids while running two global enterprises is intense.

Being back in France together made it even more emotional. France has always been an incredibly sentimental place for us—it’s actually where we renewed our wedding vows. To find ourselves back here, standing on a global stage like Cannes, felt like a beautiful full-circle moment. Our partnership is built on a complete refusal to let the other person think small, so having him next to me felt right. It was a moment where my world of design and his world of deep tech stood on the exact same carpet, celebrating how far we've come.

How does your debut at Cannes reflect the global luxury vision behind Maison Sia?

Maison Sia exists because I got tired of the lack of access to truly uncompromising international art and objects in India. We didn't launch to follow trends; we launched to curate what I call "emotional luxury"—pieces that demand a reaction.

Taking up space at Cannes is a direct extension of that exact philosophy. It’s a signal that India is no longer just a lucrative market waiting to import global aesthetics. We have the taste, the capital, and the critical eye to actively dictate where global design goes next.

As an Indian female entrepreneur on a world stage, what statement did you want to make about modern Indian leadership?

I wanted to prove that power doesn't need to be loud to dominate a room. Modern Indian leadership—especially for women—is quiet, highly analytical, and deeply intentional.

For a long time, Western luxury houses held a monopoly on global prestige. My goal on that red carpet was to show that we can walk into these spaces completely on our own terms, carrying our heritage not as a novelty costume, but as a sophisticated, competitive business edge.

What is your one piece of advice for young Indian women aiming to build globally relevant brands?

Stop trying to build for existing templates. The moment you dilute your taste to fit what the Western market thinks an Indian brand should look like, you’ve already lost.

Be fanatical about your execution and completely unapologetic about your perspective. Figure out the exact, specific problem you are solving, obsess over the quality of your product, and ignore the noise. If your standard of excellence is high enough, the world has no choice but to adjust to you.