Rohit Bal is ‘critical, on ventilator’, says treating doctor: ‘He has a heart condition and some infection’
Rohit Bal is ‘critical, on ventilator’, says treating doctor: ‘He has a heart condition and some infection’
Fashion designer Rohit Bal is currently critical, on ventilator support in the ICU in Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital. Speaking with indianexpress.com, the treating interventional cardiologist Dr Praveen Chandra said, “It has been a few days that he has been admitted. He is critical and of course on ventilator support. He is on medications.”
Dr Chandra also said, “He has a heart condition and some infection which is being treated.”
Bal, 62, who had a critical cardiac condition, was reportedly struggling with alcohol addiction and was in and out of rehab. In November 2022, Bal’s condition worsened which led to his admission to the hospital.
In February 2010, Bal faced a heart attack that necessitated an angioplasty.
Born in Srinagar, Bal, an alumnus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi, began his career in 1986. One of the foremost names in the fashion industry, Bal started his independent menswear collection in 1990. His creations have been worn by international celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, and Uma Thurman, while he also designed for the Indian game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. He also expanded into accessories and womenswear.
According to his official website, the versatile designer draws on history, fantasy, and folklore to create masterpieces that are desired by discerning aficionados around the globe. “Rohit has a deep understanding of the psyche of the fashion world and it reflects in his collections that are intelligent, studied, imaginative, and completely innovative yet always relevant and awe-inspiring,” it reads.
Bal also ventured into jewellery design. He was known for the use of lotus and peacock motifs. He frequently used rich fabrics like velvet, and brocade.
Time Magazine dubbed the designer ‘India’s Master of fabric and fantasy’ in 1996.
Notably, Bal held fashion shows in London, Paris, New York, Singapore, Moscow, Jakarta, Colombo, Sao Paulo, Munich, Geneva, and all major cities in India.
Bal won ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006. In 2020, he was named as the ‘Iconic Fashion Designer of the country’ by the jury of the Rajnigandha Pearls India Fashion Awards.
Not very long ago, Bal walked for his protégé and designer Abhishek Sharma at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2022.