Shalini Passi’s ‘The Art of Being Fabulous’ explores the work behind living beautifully

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.”

This kind of internal work, she notes, is rarely visible behind the glamour. Her move into writing came when younger women began reaching out to her, wanting to talk about confidence, pressure and expectations. “I realised that the experiences I’d lived through — the fragile ones as much as the empowering ones —might actually be worth sharing. That’s how The Art of Being Fabulous came to life,” she says of her debut book, published by Penguin Random House India, which focusses on mindful living and personal growth.

At the unveiling of her memoir at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, Shalini — dressed in a custom saree from designer Ashdeen Lilaowala’s print series — was both nervous and excited. Joining her was politician and author Shashi Tharoor, who spoke about the sensibility she brings to her work. “She reminds us that art can exist in the way we arrange a room, the way we carry a conversation, or even in how we choose colour and silence,” he noted. “All of that is art.”

For someone deeply involved in the art world, Shalini says art changed how she thinks about beauty. She once saw it as something meant to comfort — but over time, she has come to see how it can also challenge and unsettle. “Spending time with artists, understanding how they think and what they’re willing to risk, changed how I approach my own life,” she says. “There’s an emotional courage in the creative process that I really admire. It’s made me value long-term vision, experimentation and emotional honesty.”

Readers, she believes, may be surprised by how little the book is actually about glamour, and how much it is about discipline, honesty and conscious choices. “Living beautifully rarely happens in the spotlight,” she points out. “It shows up in our daily habits, our relationships, and in the way we choose to treat ourselves.” 

Among the ideas she explores, the hardest for her has been learning to slow down. What sounds simple often feels anything but. “I kept asking myself what I was really achieving by staying busy,” she admits. “Some of my clearest decisions and most honest creative insights came only when I allowed myself to pause. I don’t think I’ll ever fully master it, and I am okay with that.”

At the same time, she is careful that vulnerability does not become self-indulgent. She shares personal moments only when they might offer strength or perspective. “True empowerment lies in recognising that uncertainty, self-doubt and reinvention aren’t weaknesses; they’re part of growth,” she reflects. 

Ultimately, she hopes readers close the book feeling more comfortable with who they are becoming, rather than who they think they are supposed to be. If there is one idea she hopes to dismantle, it is the belief that there is a formula for beauty, success or a life well-lived. “There isn’t one. And the sooner you make peace with that, the sooner you can begin building something that is genuinely, wholly yours,” she advises. 

Beyond the book, Shalini is exploring curatorial and collaborative projects that bring contemporary Indian artists into conversation with international platforms. She is also developing visual and editorial initiatives that aim to foster richer storytelling around culture, identity and creative practice. “For me, the next phase is about creating spaces for meaningful exchange, across art, design and lived experience,” she says. “It’s an exciting and evolving chapter.”