On Being Fabulous

Delhi art patron and entrepreneur Shalini Passi has released her latest book The Art of Being Fabulous. A conversation with Passi about the book and the lessons it conveys.

- ADITHI REENA AJITH

LONG before television and social media fame brought her into households across the country, Shalini Passi had built a life rooted in art, aesthetics, and discipline. Known for her distinctive style, sharp self-awareness, and unapologetic individuality, Passi has never fit neatly into any one category.

Part memoir and part personal manifesto, her debut book The Art of Being Fabulous (Penguin India) — which she describes as “simple, honest, and meant for everyone” — reflects the same spirit. It offers a look into her world — particularly her constant reinvention — without pretending to have all the answers.

Contrary to expectations, Passi says her book was never meant to correct misconceptions about “being fabulous.” Instead, it emerged organically from the curiosity of people who followed her journey. “People were interested in my ideas, and my way of being,” she shared. “They were asking simple questions that they found difficult. And answers don’t have to be complicated.”