Art patron, philanthropist, reality TV and couture darling, and now, an author too — Shalini Passi has long been a familiar presence in Delhi’s circles. But her appearance on Netflix’s Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives has given the rest of the country a glimpse of her unapologetically maximal world and her refreshingly ‘girls’ girl’ energy. Known for her Judith Leiber minaudières and couture-at-home wardrobe, what she writes in her literary debut — The Art of Being Fabulous (Penguin Random House India) — though, is that clothes do not maketh a man fabulous. It’s  your energy, your karma, inner circle, and the legacy you are working to build, she writes. Passi shares more notes on how to be fabulous like her.

How do you protect your energy to be fabulous and block jealousy in times of social media, especially when many people’s careers depend on it?
Shalini Passi: In The Art of Being Fabulous, I write that energy is your real capital — it’s the most valuable thing you have. I’ve learned not to compete in spaces that drain me. I’m intentional about curating what I consume, and I’ve become comfortable silencing noise without guilt. I never let social media dictate my self-worth, though I understand how challenging that can be when so many of us rely on these platforms professionally. Here’s what I’ve discovered: jealousy tends to disappear when you’re genuinely busy living a full, purposeful life. True fabulousness comes from inner stability, not external applause. It’s about building something real within yourself that no algorithm can shake.