Who is Shalini Passi, Delhi socialite and star of Fabulous Lives season 3, and wife of India’s former top taxpayer?

The third season of Netflix's popular reality series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives has garnered significant attention since its release last week. Now titled Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, this season brings in three new Delhi-based socialites: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Shalini Passi, and Kalyani Saha Chawla. Among them, Shalini Passi has quickly become a fan favorite.

Who is Shalini Passi?

Shalini Passi is a prominent figure in Delhi's art and fashion circles. A design collector and art patron, Shalini is also known for her philanthropic work. Born in 1976, she married businessman Sanjay Passi in the late 1990s, and the couple lives in a 20,000-square-foot home in Delhi’s Golf Links, along with their son Robin. Shalini, a former state-level gymnast, is a fitness enthusiast and now focuses on running.

In the art world, she is well-regarded for her role as a member of the Khoj Advisory Board for over a decade and as a patron of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, an international art exhibition. Shalini’s philanthropic efforts include organizing workshops for underprivileged children in Delhi, focusing on arts and crafts. In 2018, she founded The Shalini Passi Art Foundation and MASH India to support emerging artists in the country.

Sanjay Passi’s business and achievements

Sanjay Passi, Shalini's husband, chairs the Pasco Group, a leading name in Tata Motors-certified dealerships in North India. In 1999, Sanjay received the Aaykar Ratna Award for being the country’s highest taxpayer. In 2021, he made headlines by donating Rs 10 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Delhi vs Mumbai: the new theme of the show

Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives premiered on Netflix on October 18, featuring returning cast members Maheep Kapoor, Seema Sajdeh, Bhavana Panday, and Neelam. With the addition of the three new Delhi socialites, the show introduces a fresh Delhi vs Mumbai rivalry. The season has received mixed reviews but has sparked widespread online discussion. Shalini Passi, in particular, has been praised on Twitter for her “straightforward” and “real” persona.