6 days Ago
Shalini Passi , the season's new entry from Delhi has become the unexpected star of reality TV show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives (FLBW). Since its release in mid-October, articles have been devoted to cuts of her blouses. Even Kapil Sharma gushes over her on his show, calling her a 'machhli'.
In this post-shame world of reality TV, where everyone is letting it all hang out - from Victoria Beckham's WAG lifestyle to Dubai Bling's idle elite - it's intriguing to find someone who stands out by holding on to something resembling values. Passi's debut sees her descending a marble staircase in couture, dressed as Cleopatra no less, referencing ancient Egyptian iconography by holding daggers - even though she may not know that Cleopatra is typically shown with daggers only in death. The detail is telling: Passi resists the 'lady who lunches' label, though she may well be one.
She trains in dance and singing, collects art, and even dabbles in painting - though her portrait of journalist Ruchika Mehta didn't quite resemble its subject. Perhaps she was going for something else. In this bizarre genre of television content - almost a reverse Hunger Games, where the wealthy cannibalise each other for the not-so-wealthy's entertainment - Passi stands out by diving into life beyond luxury.
She wades into the ocean in an expensive gown, embracing spontaneity over caution. In another segment, she plunges into the sea while her cast-mates linger at the edge. To the other wives, she's weird.
To the rest of us, she's reaching to feel and express things beyond what money can buy. She enjoys her luxuries, but isn't shy about it. There's a bit of Nita Ambani and Radhika Merchant in her, with the pursuit of classical dance while dangling million-dollar clutches.
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Again, here she stands apart from her fellow participants who happily play into the bimbo stereotype for laughs. Bhavna Pandey, for instance, addressed a hall of economics students at her alma mater Sri Ram College of Commerce with the cringeworthy insight that her biggest lesson was 'learning to spend her husband's money'. While the other cast members flaunt their privilege, Passi seems very aware of hers.
Could this difference be a Delhi vs Mumbai thing? Perhaps. Passi's more formal, 'intellectual' presentation reflects Delhi's tradition of cultural heritage, contrasting with Mumbai's effortless glitz and 'film-city' dazzle. She's less about flaunting and more about defining herself in ways money alone can't buy.
In this round, Shalini claims a win for Delhi, challenging the emptiness of the show itself. Within the already politically incorrect genre of 'rich wives', this show manages to be particularly tone-deaf. At least Dubai Bling includes a nod to gender equality with a few men among the wealthy cast.
Even Argentine-Spanish model, and Cristiano Ronaldo's partner, Georgina Rodriguez has a compelling rags-to-riches story. And Victoria Beckham's fame stands on her own achievements as a Spice Girl. But FLBW shows little regard for such balance, serving up a view of privilege that's as oblivious as it is outdated.
Ever wonder why only certain WAGs go for this format? Why not the rajkumaris of yore, some of whom still retain their palaces, though they may lack audiences to greet with 'khamma ghani,' that Rajasthani greeting of respect. Perhaps it's hard to imagine such figures entering the reality TV space. As for successful women entrepreneurs, wives or not, they might be too busy with their real lives to put their homes on display.
You could find them on Shark Tank, though..
