Shalini Passi with her new book
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ever since socialite, philanthropist and art patron Shalini Passi appeared on Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives on Netflix in 2024, she has become something of a social media sensation — celebrated for her nonchalant attitude and maximal sartorial choices. Her sharp one-liners such as “I like things more than people” and “I don’t hold grudges, it affects my skin” quickly went viral, with many applauding her candour.
But what looks effortless on screen has taken time. Shalini admits she didn’t simply wake up one day feeling immune to outside noise. Over the years, she realised that the opinions that unsettled her the most were often about things she could not control anyway. “That’s when I kept returning to integrity, the consistency between my values and my actions,” she says. “If I am intentional about my work, my collaborations, the causes I support — that becomes my anchor. When the external narrative shifts, as it always does, I’m less affected by it.”
Published – February 23, 2026 06:52 pm IST
