Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Attend 66th Cannes Film Festival: Bollywood Beauty's Red Carpet Looks over the Years [PHOTOS]

Legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan stars in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, which opens Cannes Film Festival 2013

Glamorous Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan will be among the stars attending the 66th Cannes Film Festival, which starts on 15 May.

An excited Amitabh Bachchan, whose film, The Great Gatsby, has been selected as the opening film of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, posted a delighted message on his official Facebook account: "Baz Luhrmann [the director of the film] informs me that 'The Great Gatsby' has been officially selected for the opening film for Cannes film festival on May 15th .. all very excited ! And the premier of the film in New York on May 1st as told to me ... but yet to be confirmed. So travel coming up for these occasions."

The Great Gatsby, also starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher and Carey Mulligan, is based on the novel of the same name, written by American Francis Scott Fitzgerald. The film will open in theatres, in the US and India on 10 May. The UK release is expected to be in the following week.

Bachchan, 70, will be accompanied to Cannes by his daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The 39-year-old former Miss World is a regular attendee at the festival, in her role as a brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris.

She has also served on the jury of the festival in 2003, becoming the first Indian actress to do so. This will mark her 12th consecutive appearance.

In addition to the Bachchans, the 2013 Cannes Film Festival will also see a large number of celebrities from the Indian film industry; this is the centenary year of Indian cinema.

Weight Watch

Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be aware her appearance at Cannes is likely to trigger old debates regarding her weight. The actress, who became a mother for the first time in November 2011, was subject to a public discussion over her refusal to lose weight immediately. The actress refused to bow to public pressure and opted to appear at Cannes 2012, where she successfully defended her status as a fashion icon.

Check out photographs of the actress' red carpet looks over the last decade of appearances at the Cannes Film Festival...