Rohit Bal, a well-known fashion designer, is critically ill and has been placed on ventilator support. The designer, who is originally from Srinagar, began his profession in 1986. Due to a pre-existing cardiac problem, Bal was admitted to Medanta Hospital in the National Capital Region.
Bal has struggled with alcoholism and has been in and out of rehab. Arjun Rampal, an old acquaintance of the 62-year-old, paid him a visit at the hospital. When he was brought to the hospital 6-7 months ago, physicians reportedly had to flush the booze and sleeping drugs from his system.
Bal had an emergency angioplasty in February 2010 after suffering a heart attack. Bal, a St Stephens graduate, was named ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006.
He attended the National Institute of Fashion Technology to study fashion design. In 2001, he was named ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards, and in 2012, he was selected the Lakme Grand Finale Designer.
Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, and Uma Thurman are among his international clients. Bal has also been dubbed the “Master of Indian Fabric and Fantasy” by Time Magazine. Bal launched the restaurant ‘Veda’ in 2005. His collections have also been displayed in fashion shows in Paris, London, Moscow, Singapore, and New York.