Shalini Passi on living beautifully, thinking deeply, and 'The Art of Being Fabulous'

Few figures in India’s cultural landscape move as fluidly between art, fashion, and philosophy as Shalini Passi. A renowned patron of contemporary Indian art, a philanthropist with a deeply personal commitment to nurturing creative voices, and a style icon whose presence feels both deliberate and instinctive, Passi has long embodied a life shaped by beauty with intention.

With the launch of her book, The Art of Being Fabulous: 10 Rules for a Beautiful Mind & Life, she turns her gaze inwards, distilling decades of lived experience into a manifesto for modern living. Equal parts reflective and aspirational, the book explores elegance as a state of mind, glamour as an inner practice, and fabulousness as something rooted in personal power. In this intimate conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Shalini Passi speaks about writing from a place of conviction, the philosophies that guide her life, and why true luxury begins from within.

Harper’s Bazaar: The Art of Being Fabulous feels as much like a philosophy as it does a memoir. What moment made you realise you needed to share this idea?

Shalini Passi: There wasn't a single dramatic turning point—it was more a quiet accumulation of lived experience. I realised that what people call "glamour" in my world often hides the truth: that a life that shines is built slowly, day by day, through self-respect, boundaries, and constant reinvention. Over the years, friends, collectors, and designers would often ask how I balance art, beauty, chaos, and calm. It felt like time to put those learnings into words—so others could access the tools I once had to discover for myself.

HB: In a world obsessed with external validation, how does one cultivate inner elegance?

SP: Inner elegance begins with restraint and clarity. It is learning to be selective—with people, with commitments, with what you allow into your emotional landscape. It's the courage to pause before reacting, to speak kindly even when it is difficult, to build confidence independent of applause. Stylish dressing can adorn you, but only self-awareness can elevate you.

HB: You've spent decades as a patron of art, fashion, and design. How did these disciplines shape the book?

SP: Art taught me to see differently. Fashion taught me to express boldly. Design taught me that structure and beauty must coexist. The book weaves all three together—the intuitive vision of art, the bold self-expression of fashion, and the thoughtful frameworks of design. Art teaches us to embrace uncertainty and live with questions, while fashion shows us how to step into the world with intention. That balance between contemplation and action pulses through every chapter.

HB: Art has always been central to your life and home. How does it influence mental well-being, and can curating one's surroundings be self-care?

SP: Absolutely. A thoughtfully curated space mirrors who you are becoming. Art invites silence, contemplation, and emotional connection—it slows the nervous system and deepens our ability to feel. I believe that living with beauty is not indulgence; it is nourishment. When your walls speak back to you, you feel less alone on the journey. 

HB: You speak about courage with softness rather than force. What kind of courage do modern women need most today?

SP: The courage to be selective. To say no unapologetically. To be ambitious and tender at the same time. We live in a culture that rewards loudness—but inner certainty, quiet conviction, and a refusal to shrink are forms of power that don't need volume.

HB: Spirituality weaves subtly through the book. How has your spiritual journey evolved alongside your public life?

SP: My spiritual path has been like a hidden foundation—it may not always be visible, but everything rests on it. As my public life became louder, my inner life needed to become deeper. Meditation, travel to sacred spaces, and art-inspired contemplation—these practices help me return to myself. Spirituality softens the ego and reminds me that I am always becoming—that identity is fluid and evolving.

HB: In a culture obsessed with hustle, your philosophy feels slower and intentional. How do you define success now?

SP: Success used to feel like accumulation—experiences, objects, responsibilities. Today, success feels like ease. Freedom to choose how I spend my time, whom I allow into my emotional orbit, and what values govern my decisions. Success is a state of being, not a checklist.

HB: The book encourages dignity in everyday living. What does dignity look like in failure or self-doubt?

SP: Dignity is simply this—staying on your own side. It is refusing to treat yourself in ways you would never treat a friend. In low moments, dignity is wearing your crown even when no one is watching—honouring your process, forgiving mistakes, and continuing gently.

HB: Writing a book requires vulnerability. Was there a chapter that felt especially exposing?

SP: Yes—the chapter that touches on self-worth. Speaking openly about moments where I felt invisible or underestimated required honesty that I usually reserve for my close circle. But I felt readers needed to know that grace often grows out of discomfort—and that confidence is earned, not inherited.

HB: How do you hope readers feel when they finish the book?

SP: I hope they feel seen. And I hope they feel possibility—like fabulousness is available to anyone willing to honour themselves, slow down, and cultivate beauty from the inside out. Whether they feel energised, comforted, or challenged, I want them to feel inspired to rewrite one small part of their daily rhythm. 

HB: You move fluidly between art patronage, fashion, philanthropy, and authorship. How do you protect stillness amidst so many roles?

SP: Stillness is a discipline. I create it intentionally—through small rituals, through art-viewing without a camera, through quiet mornings, through boundaries that honour my time. I've learned that rest is not a reward; it is a strategy.

HB: If fabulousness is a lifelong practice rather than a destination, what ritual do you return to when you need to realign?

SP: Daily beauty: internal before external. It could be a quiet tea at dawn, lighting a candle next to a beloved artwork, sitting with my journal, or walking alone through a gallery. These small acts remind me that luxury is not always what we buy—it's how we tend to ourselves.

Photos courtesy Shalini Passi 

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