Actor and fashion icon Sonam Kapoor delivered an emotional tribute to the late designer Rohit Bal at the Blenders Pride X FDCI Fashion Tour 2025 in Gurugram held on Saturday. Walking for her dear friend, who passed away due to cardiac arrest in November 2024 at the age of 63, Kapoor couldn’t hold back her tears.
In a heart-wrenching video that surfaced on Instagram after the event, the actor was seen walking the ramp with tears streaming down her face, pausing to greet the audience with folded hands — a gesture that spoke volumes about the emotional weight of the moment.
A vision in white: Sonam’s runway look
For this significant occasion, Kapoor stunned in a white ensemble that perfectly embodied Bal’s signature style. She wore a white-toned long dress with crusted finishing work, complemented by a beige bohemian coat featuring intricate peacock and leaf embroidery. Her look was enhanced with carefully chosen accessories — ear-cuffs and an antique ring — while her makeup featured smokey eyes and bold red lipstick. The actor’s hair was styled in a braided updo adorned with roses, with flower strings gracing her wrist.
Emotional words for ‘Gudda’
Speaking to ANI about the emotional tribute, Kapoor expressed her deep connection to the late designer: “I am so happy to be here for Gudda. I have been privileged to wear his clothes many times and to have him design clothes for me also many times. It feels wonderful to do probably his last show.”
She further emphasised Bal’s legacy, stating, “The celebration of heritage, the celebration of craftsmanship, the idea is to celebrate everything beautiful and joyful. That was him. And I think in the same way, I love wearing clothes exactly like that.”
Star-studded tribute
The fashion show honoured Rohit Bal with a special runway presentation featuring sixty-three prominent personalities from various fields. Notable figures including filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, fashion designer JJ Valaya, actors Eesha Gupta, Rahul Dev, and Mughda Godse joined the tribute by walking the ramp.
Sonam’s social media tribute
Kapoor later took to Instagram to share her experience, posting photos and videos from the event with a heartfelt caption: “An honour to walk in tribute to the legendary Rohit Bal at @fdciofficial x @blenderspridefashiontour. His artistry, vision, and legacy have shaped Indian fashion in ways beyond measure. Stepping onto the runway in his memory was both emotional and inspiring — celebrating a designer who was, and always will be, an icon.”
The event stood as a touching reminder of Rohit Bal’s immense contribution to Indian fashion and his lasting impact on the industry, with Sonam Kapoor’s emotional tribute serving as a powerful testament to his legacy.