Ash, Sonam and Freida at the Cannes this year

She debuts at the film festival; but won't sashay down the red carpet on the same day as the Bachchan Bahu

The last time Sonam Kapoor was slated to walk on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, it mysteriously didn't materialise. It was reported that the regular-at-the-fest Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had demanded that the younger actress be left out, or she wouldn't attend. This year the Aisha girl is finally fulfilling her catwalk dream. This is the first time that Sonam will be at the French Riviera. However, she will not be walking alongside Ash. Both actress endorse the global face of a cosmetic brand, that gives them the opportunity to hobnob with top actors and filmmakers of the world at the film festival, that is less about cinema and more about glamour.

Aishwarya will be at the opening ceremony of Cannes on May 11, as well as the opening gala cocktail and dinner while attending various events on May 12. This the tenth consecutive time that she is walking the red carpet at the French Riviera. The ex-Ms World sent out a press statement through her publicist saying, "I'm glad India is finally getting the same recognition (as the West). I am happy that with Sonam and Freida (Pinto), both beautiful women, are invited to the festival this year, India will have a stronger presence, which is a clear sign of the growing importance of the country."

Sonam will walk the red carpet on May 15. She said, "It has always been my dream to walk the red carpet at Cannes and it is soon going to be a reality. I look forward to meeting actors and film makers from the world over and attending screenings of some interesting films." Chances are that Sonam's dad Anil Kapoor who is one of the best known Indian faces in Hollywood after Slumdog Millionaire and the television series 24, may also one of the big Indian draws at the red carpet in Cannes.

Freida will be present at the amFAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research) dinner and after-party on May 19.