Living life large, Rohit Bal way

Dressing men in skirts and nose-rings, even sindoor, Bal set about liberating the Indian man from the drab wardrobe choices made for them by their women.

- Nichola Marie

Just last month, the iconic Rohit Bal brought the house to its feet, as he pulled off an incredible grand finale in collaboration with the House of Lakme. His collection 'Kaaynaat' (universe), inspired by the "vast, ethereal beauty of the cosmos and the delicate bloom of flowers", was eye-wateringly good. Of course, the real reason behind the tears filling eyes at the show was his triumphant return after a challenging year of health battles. A resurrection, no less, as he joined showstopper Ananya Panday on the ramp, grooving to the beats of Madonna's Vogue! That he was visibly frail, had to be helped onstage, etc., made no difference to his spirit. For the moment, he was alive, jubilant and doing what he did best – what else could possibly matter? As news breaks of his passing on Friday, Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana rings afresh: "Your candle has burned out long before your legend ever will."

Bal wore the inevitable 'Enfant Terrible' crown on his golden locks with exquisite indifference, even nonchalant pride. No, he did not mind being called "India's bad boy of fashion". In fact, he accepted it – with a smirk on his fine-featured face – as a compliment. The term actually meant someone who rebels against set conventions, he would reason, and that's who he was: the unruly one, leading his life his own way, both professionally and personally.