Aishwarya Rai meets Dakota Johnson at Red Sea Fest: Speculations on an ‘unexpected collab'
Bollywood superstar Aishwarya, who attended the festival in a beige gown paired with a black shrug, was seen greeting Dakota Johnson, who arrived in a black deep-neck cut-out dress. In the widely shared clip, the two actors hold hands and engage in a brief but cheerful conversation. Dakota is heard sharing details from her India trip earlier this year, telling Aishwarya, “We went to Maha Kumbh,” prompting a delighted reaction from the Bollywood star.
They later posed together for photographers, with the moment becoming one of the highlights of the evening.
Reactions ranged from “Unexpected collab” to “Two divas in one frame,” and many praised the duo with messages such as “Both are so beautiful” and “My queens.”
Dakota Johnson’s India visit has remained a topic of interest since January, when she travelled to the country with Chris Martin for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour. During the trip, she was photographed visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple with Sonali Bendre and Gayatri Joshi, and later accompanied Chris Martin to Shri Babulnath Temple to seek blessings. Her mention of the Maha Kumbh visit added another layer of curiosity for fans who had followed her earlier travels.
Aishwarya Rai’s appearance at the festival follows her last on-screen role in Ponniyin Selvan II, directed by Mani Ratnam. The film, which featured an ensemble cast including Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Trisha Krishnan, and Sobhita Dhulipala, performed strongly at the box office. While her festival appearance drew significant attention, Aishwarya has yet to reveal details about her next acting project.
Dakota Johnson, meanwhile, was last seen in the 2025 release Materialists, a project that also starred Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The film received positive reviews and earned $108 million globally. She is currently gearing up for Verity, an American psychological thriller directed by Michael Showalter. The film features Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett and is set for a 2026 release.