Will this be the year that Bollywood trumps Hollywood at the world's biggest film festival?

The dazzling flashbulbs that greeted Aishwarya Rai's arrival on the red carpet at Cannes this evening certainly gave that impression. This year more Bollywood stars are expected on the French Riviera than ever before.

Cannes red carpet veteran, Aishwarya Rai appeared on the steps of the Theatre Grand Lumiere with her new husband Abhishek Bachchan by her side.

Former Miss World Rai, 33, told television news she was gradually getting used to her maritial status.

"This is the first travel where people start calling you, `Hello Mrs. Bachchan, good evening,'" she said.

"I've maybe done a double take at times, but pleasantly so, it makes us smile, so it's been good."

Although press reports from India had suggested the in demand star might pass on Cannes to concentrate on current film Jodha Akbar, Rai is contract bound by French make-up brand L'Oreal, so an appearance was guaranteed.

Rai first walked the Cannes red carpet in 2003 for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas.

Aishwarya and Abhishek will stroll the Croisette again on Sunday afternoon when Mani Ratnam's hit Guru is screened in the Tous les Cinemas du Monde strand as part of a special focus on Indian cinema.

Other Bollywood stars strutting their stuff on opening night included Preity Zinta, in Cannes to promote jeweller Chopard.

Bipasha Basu is expected tomorrow to promote Goal, a film about an Asian football team team shot in London.

Abhishek's father Amitabh Bachchan will be in Cannes at the weekend to promote Cheeni Kum, to be screened in the Cannes Film Market.

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