I have rarely seen a celebrity enjoying such exhilarating stardom and fandom after her debut reality series like Shalini Passi. Post the ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives”, Shalini metamorphosed into a national craze. She outplayed the other wives and caught the nation’s imagination like nobody else. The other wives were gawking at her knockers while she knocked the ball out of the park.
It’s not that Shalini Passi wasn’t famous before “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives”. She has been part of Delhi’s high life and rubbed shoulders with Bollywood’s Czar and Czarinas in Mumbai. King Khan and Gauri are best friends. In fact Gauri Khan and Sanjay Passi were neighbours in Delhi. But now Shalini Passi is a name known in Darbhanga in the east to Daman-Diu in the west and Gulmarg in the north to Tuticorin down south. She is talked about in boardrooms, in lawyers’ swanky chambers, in posh salons and even in the corridors of power. Shalini was like a Flu that spread wildfire post her debut Reality TV series. Endless interviews, dozens of cover shoots and nationwide appearances fanned it to a blaze.
I have known Shalini Passi for quite some years. She is a famous art collector, promoter of artists and does commendable work for UNICEF in India. MASH, a digital magazine promoted by Shalini has great content on art & fashion. Her closet is filled with one-of-a-kind couture pieces from Labels that sell only to their loyal patrons. Mermaid gowns seem to be her favourite, paired with quirky clutches. Shalini has quirky shades; she can be ‘haanji Namaskar ji’ to bindaas badass.
Passi has enough naysayers bitching behind her back…”Sanjay is spending crores on her PR every month”. Whatever little I know of Sanjay, he won’t pay a penny for PR. He would rather seek divine blessings and share that with you too. There’s not a single ‘Person of the Year Award’ hosted by big media houses that didn’t go to Shalini. She is onboarded by Dharma Productions’ talent management team – DCA that brings in endorsements and collaborations. Her debut book – ‘The Art of Being Fabulous’ is on the top sellers list and fangirls and fanboys are reading it cover-to-cover in a single go.
I saw her being chased for selfies at the airport. The entourage size has increased. This kind of madness I haven’t seen before. The men are crushing on her, saas and bahus adore her in Schiaparelli gowns like they do their favourite Benarasi draped bahus in Ekta’s soaps and the Gen Z’s and Alpha’s are lapping up her quaint words of wisdom.
I will skip the house of the Passi’s as it’s been talked much about. Recently at the Opening party of the India Art Fair, the beautiful house amazed one and all yet again.
So what’s gonna happen in the next season of ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’? It seems Shalini Passi will be joined by an entire new cast.