Singer Rahul Vaidya has come to the defense of actress Alia Bhatt after she faced trolling for her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. Alia, representing India and a global beauty brand, was criticized on social media for not receiving enough attention from international media during her red carpet walk. In response, Vaidya took to Instagram to express his disapproval of the negativity surrounding Alia, stating, "Funny how people sitting with zero achievements become fashion critics... At least Alia Bhatt is out there representing India on one of the biggest global platforms." He emphasized that real stars do not need validation from social media and criticized the obsession with tearing down successful women for engagement. Actor Aly Goni also supported Alia, lamenting that people should celebrate rather than mock those who elevate India's presence globally. Alia Bhatt continues to be a prominent figure at Cannes, and her upcoming projects include the film Alpha, set to release in July, and Love & War, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, expected in January 2027.