The glamour of the Cannes Film Festival often looks straight out of a dream, complete with luxury gowns, celebrity sightings, and iconic red carpet moments. However, influencer Tarini Peshawaria recently peeled back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes at the prestigious event.
In her Instagram video, Tarini shared her unfiltered experience of attending Cannes four years ago, revealing everything from expensive photographers to intimidating celebrity-filled hotel lobbies. (Also read: Huma Qureshi signs off from Cannes 2026 in black halter-neck gown, says modern Indian women are ‘not about perfection’ )
The reality behind the Cannes red carpet
According to Tarini, the much-hyped red carpet moment is surprisingly brief. “The red carpet is literally one to two minutes long and every red carpet is not the same,” she explained. Recalling the intense celebrity frenzy, she revealed how major stars completely transformed the atmosphere. “Aishwarya Rai Bachchan obviously had the entire red carpet to herself, followed by some of us influencers and then when Tom Cruise came right behind us, nobody was allowed to enter the red carpet for like 10 minutes,” she shared.
One of the biggest revelations from her video was about photography at Cannes. According to Tarini, influencers often have to hire photographers themselves to get professional pictures clicked at the event. “I paid one 400 euros ( ₹44,877) for seven videos and seven photos. I know, still recovering from this,” she revealed, shedding light on the hidden costs associated with influencer appearances at international events.
How’s the atmosphere inside Hotel Martinez
Tarini also opened up about staying at the luxurious Hotel Martinez, famous for its celebrity-filled staircases and extravagant room prices. While the trip was sponsored by L’Oréal, she admitted that the environment often made her feel out of place as someone attending without a professional team. She also recalled how designer Manish Malhotra once sent a member of his team to help drape her saree when she struggled to manage it herself.
Despite the glamour and celebrity sightings, what stayed with Tarini the most was a feeling of disbelief and vulnerability. “The one thing that I remember the most is feeling like a fly on the wall. I wasn’t sure if I belonged there and to date, I’m still not sure if I did,” she confessed.
