With a career spanning almost four decades, Rohit Bal was one of the most enigmatic names in Indian fashion. His passing on November 1 left a gaping void in the heart of the entire industry, with tributes pouring in from around the world. My Kolkata caught up with his close friend and collaborator Gauri Bajoria Ahuja, who candidly remembered the Rohit aka Gudda that she knew and loved.
“I met him for the first time in Goa, 20 years ago. I used to curate this luxury fashion exhibit called Savoir Faire, and had asked him to be a part of it. Despite working with over a 100 designers, I was very nervous. However, we hit it off as great friends from day one, and it never felt like a work relationship. Just like that, Gudda became an integral part of all my shows.
While he was particular about things going to plan, he never worried himself with numbers. He was more concerned about living in the moment, with his whimsical madness. Hanging out with him was an absolute riot. I never even realised that we were working, because we would be having such a blast. The first time we worked together, I was very nervous, given how big a name he was. Somehow, we pulled off a mammoth show with a proper catwalk and an entire sequence of models, thanks to his stunning collection.
He never consciously tried to stand out, it was just in his DNA to be ahead of his time. Be it his skill, craft, or relationships, everything was a cut above the rest. It was rare to see someone so humane and sensitive, not just to his peers, but with those working for him. And I have never seen a more loyal person!
‘If you see the clips of him dancing, you will know how mad he was. We never even knew we were working, because we had so much fun,’ remembers Gauri
People would ask me if it was difficult to get hold of him, given his popularity. But he was always there. Even when I got married in the pandemic, he was personally there for all the fittings and drapings in the family. We worked together on everything from the outfits to the gift boxes. Gudda was all soul, and everything he created was from the heart.
What always stood out was his remarkable attention to detail. During this one event, the pieces weren’t looking good in daylight. But Gudda knew exactly how much to dim the lights at night, and found the perfect angle along with soulful nostalgic music to make it all look stunning. He would only need a second to understand what was working and what wasn’t. Gudda could create magic out of everything.
While he worked hard, it was his values that set him apart. Values that were increasingly rare to find. We met at a time where both of us were experiencing loss, and connected strongly over it.
‘He was theatrical and dramatic, but also had a lot of peace and calm,’ says Gauri
In the past few days, the internet has been flooded with clips of him dancing. It perfectly shows how theatrical and dramatic he was. But he also had a lot of peace and calm, particularly from his Kashmiri roots. This reflected in his collections too.
We remained close till the very end. We last spoke on his birthday in May. He wasn’t very well, but we still had a long, nice chat. We spent a lot of time in Goa, which is why I’ve come here. I felt empty, and wanted to relieve some of the moments we shared on the beach.
Honestly, I can’t get myself to talk about him in the past tense, because I still get goosebumps every time I mention him. I can’t process it, let alone believe that he is no more. And I don’t think I ever will.”
— As told to Vedant Karia