Tribute | Rohit Bal: the flamboyant designer rooted in heritage yet globally resonant
The Hindu
Experience the legacy of Rohit Bal, the legendary couturier known as Gudda, through a heartfelt fashion showcase in Gurugram.
“There will never be another Gudda.” A sentiment expressed by all those who knew the legendary couturier Rohit Bal (fondly known as Gudda), echoed through the air, as I sat beneath a canopy of light and memory. The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour unfolded in Gurugram, not just as a showcase, but as an immersive celebration of Bal’s extraordinary life and timeless legacy.
Known for his maximalist ethos balanced with an undercurrent of sophisticated restraint, Bal was a storyteller, weaving narratives of heritage, opulence, and romance into each of his creations. The showcase was a visual memoir of his journey, featuring his muses, friends, family, and fellow designers who have walked with him through the tapestry of time.
The set, envisioned by Sumant Jayakrishnan, was like a canvas where larger-than-life projections of Bal’s photographs and archival footage painted a vivid portrait of his illustrious career. The atmosphere was drenched in nostalgia, punctuated by the soulful strains of Vibha Saraf’s Kashmiri melodies. As the show gathered momentum, the music swelled in harmony, with Deveshi Sahgal singing popular folk songs as his muses in typical Bal fashion twirled and swayed in abandon.
A procession of memories
The casting was a who’s who of popular faces. Kalyani Chawla opened the show and was soon followed by OG supermodels Carol Gracias, Sheetal Malhar, Mugdha Godse, Rahul Dev, Marc Robinson and Muzzamil Ibrahim. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and TV host Rajiv Makhni were joined by designers JJ Valaya, Malini Ramani, Rahul Khanna, Rohit Gandhi, Ashish Soni. Actors Esha Gupta and Sonam Kapoor too sashayed down the runway, embodying Bal’s design spirit. His signature floor-grazing jackets with sharp slits, flowing kalidar kurtas, regal sherwanis, and pleated gowns dominated the showcase. His distinctive motifs — peacocks, lotuses, and roses came alive through intricate zardozi and resham in opulent velvets, lightweight mulmul and diaphanous cotton. The colour palette ranged from hues of ivory and inky black to crimson.
The showcase was a reminder that Bal’s design philosophy was a paradox — maximalist yet sophisticated, rooted in heritage yet globally resonant. His silhouettes transcended fleeting trends, making his creations as relevant in Delhi’s vibrant streets as they would be in the gilded salons of Paris.
The man behind the magic
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