By Chirag
May 18, 2026
Pakistani cinema was once rarely seen at Cannes, but it has slowly built a strong identity on the global stage.
Recently, Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed appeared on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, and her look quickly became a major talking point among fans.
But do you know which Pakistani actress first grabbed attention at Cannes? It was none other than popular actress Mahira Khan.
In 2018, Mahira Khan made history by becoming the first Pakistani actress to debut on the Cannes red carpet.
During her time at the French Riviera, Mahira Khan stayed in the spotlight not just for her fashion choices, but also for proudly representing Pakistan on the global stage.
At the Cannes 2018 red carpet, Mahira Khan turned heads in an off-shoulder black gown, creating a huge buzz among fashion lovers on social media.