Meet Virat Kohli’s close friend Manish Vaid: The engineer-turned fashion designer who walked the Cannes red carpet with Urvashi Rautela

When Urvashi Rautela walked the red carpet recently, all eyes were on her bold outfit, but even more attention was drawn to the man by her side. Stylish, composed and full of flair, he wasn’t a Bollywood star or cricketer. He was Manish Vaid, a fashion designer.

He’s not just a red carpet regular or a creative mind behind showstopping gowns. He’s also Virat Kohli’s close friend and a man who once traded engineering manuals for runway sketches. His life story reads like a film script, from Nagpur to Paris. But who really is Manish Vaid?
From Engineer to Fashion Designer
Manish Vaid hails from Nagpur and began his professional life as a mechanical engineer. He earned his degree from Nagpur University and followed it up with an MBA, before diving into studies in e-commerce and international business. According to Passionvista, his shift to fashion began in 2014, when he decided to leave behind the world of numbers and machines to follow his creative passion. He kickstarted his fashion journey in Los Angeles, far from the classrooms and textbooks of his earlier life.

Rising in the world of fashion
Since taking the plunge into fashion, Manish Vaid has made a name for himself on some of the biggest global stages. He has showcased his designs at major international fashion weeks including Paris, Dubai, Los Angeles, and Miami Swim Week. In 2019, he made it to the Designers Lounge during the Daytime Emmys, a big moment that helped cement his place in high-end couture.

A surprise Bollywood-Hollywood crossover
Vaid’s design talent hasn’t just been recognised in fashion circles. His work also made it to Hollywood. His creations were featured in the film 'Murder Mystery 2', starring none other than Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, as reported by Economic Times.
Close ties with Virat Kohli
One of the most surprising and talked-about parts of Manish Vaid’s story is his connection with cricket star Virat Kohli. While Vaid keeps a low profile about his celebrity friendships, his bond with Kohli has not gone unnoticed. He is followed by Virat Kohli on Instagram, a platform where follow-backs from stars like Kohli are rare and often meaningful. But more than that, as per Economic Times, Kohli once took to social media on Manish’s 50th birthday to publicly express how much he values their friendship. The cricketer wrote that Vaid is a “very helpful” person and described him as a “long-time confidante”, a touching shout-out that shows how deep their bond runs.