Quick Info→
Age: 62 Years Marital Status: Unmarried Hometown: Srinagar
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gudda [1]Mint |
| Profession | Fashion Designer |
| Known for | designing the costumes for Indian game show Kaun Banega Crorepati [2]Hindustan times |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 168 cm in meters– 1.68 m in feet & inches– 5’ 6” |
| Eye Colour | Hazel Green |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Career | |
| Awards | In 2006, Rohit Bal won the ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Indian Fashion Awards. In 2001, he won ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards. In 2012, he was honoured as the Lakme Grand Finale Designer. In 2013, he won the Most Stylish Men’s Evening Wear Award at the PETA-Approved Vegan Fashion Awards. In 2020, he was recognized as “Iconic Fashion Designer of the country” by the jury of the Rajnigandha Pearls India Fashion Awards. |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 8 May 1961 (Monday) |
| Age (as of 2023) | 62 Years |
| Birthplace | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Srinagar |
| School | • Woodlands House School, Srinagar • Burn Hall School, Srinagar • Delhi Public School in New Delhi |
| College/University | • St. Stephens, Delhi University • National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi |
| Educational Qualification | • First class degree in History at St. Stephens, Delhi University • Fashion studies at National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Kashmiri Pandit |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian [3]Hindustan Times |
| Hobbies | Watching films, Playing Tennis |
| Controversies | • Arrested for threatening Neighbor: On September 22 2017, Rohit Bal along with Lalit Kumar, Ramesh and Pramod, was arrested by Delhi police after his neighbor named Iqbal Singh filed a complaint against them. According to Iqbal, the four men forcefully entered his house and “under the influence of alcohol, threatened him and created a ruckus.” The case was registered and Rohit Bal was released the next day on bail. Later, Bal’s assistant made a statement regarding the issue, and said, “It was a fight over car parking. It is over now and he (Bal) is taking rest.”[4]NDTV • FIR against Cibo: On 1 December 2010, an FIR was filed against Rohit Bal’s restaurant Cibo, claiming that it was a pick-up joint. A man named Maqsood made these claims and made an FIR but Alok aggarwal, the co-owner of the restaurant claimed that it was not true and said, “This man is cooking up stories.” [5]Hindustan Times |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Affairs/partners | Lalit Tehlan (2009-2011) |
| Marriage Date | N/A |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | N/A |
| Children | Son– None Daughter– None |
| Parents | Father– Duffy Bal (Died from a heart attack in 1968.) Mother– Rakka Bal |
| Siblings | Brother– Rajeev Bal
Sister– Aruna Bal Sharma |
| Favourites | |
| Writer(s) | Thomas Hardy, Paulo Coelho |
| Book | Catch 22 by Joseph Heller |
| Song | House Music by Benny Benassi |
| Restaurant(s) | Veda Restaurant in New Delhi Bukhara in New Delhi Nobu Downtown in New York |
| Artist | M. F. Husain |
| Cuisine(s) | Kashmiri, Italian |
| Food | Yakhni |
| Colour | Ivory |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Rohit Bal
- Rohit Bal is an Indian fashion designer. He is known for designing the costumes for Amitabh Bachchan for the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
- Rohit Bal completed his schooling at three different schools Woodlands House School in Srinagar, Burn Hall School in Srinagar, and Delhi Public School in New Delhi. After completing his schooling, Rohit pursued a degree in history at St. Stephens, Delhi University.
- Since childhood, Rohit Bal aspired to be a fashion designer therefore after completing his graduation he pursued fashion studies at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi.
- In 1986, Rohit Bal started a company with his elder brother, Rajeev Bal, named Orchid Oversea Pvt. Ltd. In 1990, Rohit began his career as a fashion designer when he launched his own first independent collection. His collection includes apparel for both men and women. Rohit Bal opened his first flagship store in New Delhi and has stores all over different cities in India including Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.
- In 1996, Time Magazine named him “India’s Master of Fabric and Fantasy.”
- Rohit is known for combining traditional patterns of Indian royalty, opulence, and craftsmanship with modern sensibilities and for including Lotus and Peacock motifs in the design. Rohit’s work is mostly inspired by The Mughal and the Gupta Period. His designs are worn by famous celebrities in Bollywood including Kajol, Kangana Ranaut, and Ranveer Singh.
Rohit Bal with Kareena Kapoor Khan after his fashion show
- In the late 1990s, Rohit Bal was appointed by the Khadi Gram Udyog, the largest handloom textile operation in Panchkula, to work as a designer for them. In 2001, he became the ambassador for Omega watches.
- In February 2010, Rohit Bal suffered a heart attack and underwent an emergency angioplasty.
- Rohit Bal has collaborated with many brands including Oriflame, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Windproof Zippo. According to Rohit, he has little knowledge of technology and still likes to use paper and a pencil to draw a design.
- Rohit Bal is also a well-established international designer and has partnered with many international designers and brands including Christian Louboutin, Nebula-Titan watches, and “Reid & Taylor.”
- In 2010, as a partner of Mitsubishi, Rohit Bal launched the Outlander car by the company. During the campaign, it is shown that after being inspired by the Outlander 2010, Rohit launched a fashion line titled Outlander Signature Collection, unveiled alongside the SUV at a fashion show in New Delhi. In an interview, talking about the reason for choosing Rohit Bal as the ambassador for the car, Pritam Saikia, marketing head of Mitsubishi Motors said,
To position an SUV as a veritable fashion icon was something unique. As a first mover, we wanted to gain maximum mileage from such a strategy. We felt that Rohit Bal embodied the spirit of the Outlander – he was a global name, had a flamboyant persona and was much admired. Importantly he would integrate with the brand and not overwhelm it.”
- In 2012, Danish luxury carpet maker Ege started a partnership with Rohit Bal to create “an India-inspired series for the global market.” [6]The Hindu Later, the same year, Rohit Bal was appointed the brand ambassador for an Aditya Birla Group company titled Linen Club.
- In 2014, Rohit Bal launched his first restaurant ‘Veda’ in New Delhi alongside his businessman friend Alok Aggarwal. Later, the global mass media company Condé Nast Traveller included Veda in its Top 100 Restaurants in the World list. After the success of Veda, Rohit Bal opened a second restaurant at Connaught Place in New Delhi, Cibo. Rohit Bal also opened three more Vedas, two in Delhi, one in Mumbai and has opened a fifth restaurant in Kolkata. [7]The Times of India
Rohit Bal at his restaurant in New Delhi
- Rohit Bal has styled many international celebrities including Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Elizabeth Hurley, and Naomi Campbell. In 2018, international luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin wore one of the Rohit Bal’s apparel at the Met Gala 2018.
Shoe maverick and style Icon #ChristianLouboutin / @LouboutinWorld wore a custom @rohitbal_ rouge velvet dori embroidered sherwani at the #METGALA2018.
Mr. Louboutin handpicked the look from our show “Gulbagh” SS15, while attending the show live in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/89d0BgnEOO
— Rohit Bal (@rohitbal_) May 8, 2018
- Reportedly, Rohit Bal suffered from alcohol addiction and went to rehab many times before being admitted to Medhanta Hospital in Mumbai in November 2022. Later, talking about his health, his friend said,
Gudda is in very bad shape. He was almost dead in November. The doctors had to flush out alcohol and sleeping pills from his system when his friends took him to the hospital.”
On 28 November 2023, Rohit Bal was again admitted to the Medhanta Hospital in Mumbai under very critical conditions.
References/Sources:[+]
| ↑1 | Mint |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Hindustan times |
| ↑3 | Hindustan Times |
| ↑4 | NDTV |
| ↑5 | Hindustan Times |
| ↑6 | The Hindu |
| ↑7 | The Times of India |