If a thing of beauty is a joy forever, then Shalini Passi truly manifests it by collecting, supporting and creating some of the most beautiful things in the world. From an artwork by sculptor Mrinalini Mukherjee, a portrait gifted to her by artist Manjeet Bawa to an 18th century antique piece like an Andre-Charles Boulle table, her collection boasts an array of art, design, home décor and installation pieces.
Now, the art-design patron and collector has joined hands with AMARIS Fine Jewels to bring her first limited edition jewellery collection. This rare collectible line also marks AMARIS’ first ever celebrity collection where only five pieces of each design will ever be produced, making it an exclusive line.
Outlook Luxe was at the launch of the new capsule collection, unveiled at the AMARIS store in Gurugram. It featured three intimate capsules giving us a sneak peek into Shalini’s inner world where her love for symbols like crosses, colours of gemstones like Amethyst, Sapphires and Emeralds and nostalgic travels comes alive in sculptural chokers, bracelets, studs, rings, collared necklaces, and bejewelled hair pins. We speak with Shalini Passi and Prerna Rajpal, Founder & Creative Director of AMARIS on the collaboration, inspirations taken from pop-icons like Madonna, and the making of this luxury jewellery line.
Q: What made you think of Shalini Passi for your first celebrity collection?
Prerna: Shalini truly represents the AMARIS woman. She’s bold, she’s doing incredible things, and what I loved most about working with her is the sense of perfection she brings — not just to this collection, but to everything she does. Since this was our very first celebrity collection, it was important to collaborate with someone who truly embodies the spirit of AMARIS. Shalini does that beautifully and perfectly.
Q: Is this your first jewellery collection that you have designed?
Shalini: Yes, this is my first jewelry collection, though my love for jewelry has been lifelong and well-known. I’ve always collected pieces that spoke to me, but with this collection I finally had the chance to create jewels that reflect my own vision—bringing in the colors I felt were missing, and the motifs I’ve always cherished. In many ways, it feels like a natural extension of my journey as a collector, an artist, and now a designer.
Q: Tell us about the inspiration for this collection?
Prerna: The Shalini Passi Collection with AMARIS is inspired by Shalini’s instinctive approach to jewellery as art—bold, expressive, and deeply personal. Each capsule stems from something close to her heart: crosses that she has long admired in culture and style, flowers that symbolise both fragility and resilience, and butterflies that embody freedom and transformation. Shalini also felt that fine jewellery often lacked vibrancy, so she infused the pieces with striking colours. Together, these elements create jewels that carry fragments of her story, while also reflecting the shared philosophy of AMARIS to transform motifs into timeless forms.
Shalini: Each motif in this collection comes from something I’ve always loved. Crosses have fascinated me for years- I’ve collected them during my travels and admired the way they’ve been reinterpreted in pop culture, from rockstars to Madonna wearing it. Flowers, especially the English rose, symbolise both fragility and resilience for me, and I wanted to translate that belief into jewels that endure. Butterflies have been a lifelong love, representing fragility, beauty and transformation. Alongside these motifs, I felt fine jewellery often missed the vibrancy of certain colours, which is why I introduced regal purple amethyst and vivid pink sapphires into this collection. Together, the motifs and colors make the pieces deeply personal and expressive of who I am.
Q: What motifs, gems, colours, and precious materials can we see in this collection?
Prerna: This collection is built around motifs that are very close to Shalini—crosses, flowers, and butterflies. At AMARIS, we reinterpreted them through our design language, pairing them with vibrant gems and precious materials. You’ll see purple amethyst in the Cross My Heart capsule, over 6,000 pink sapphires and diamonds in the Flower Power necklace, and mother-of-pearl with diamonds in Born to Fly.
Q: How do the collections Cross My Heart, Flower Power, and Born To Fly reflect your personal affinities?
Shalini: Born to Fly is inspired by my lifelong love of butterflies. They are fragile yet beautiful that, for me, symbolise freedom and transformation. It is also an AMARIS signature motif, one I wore in my Netflix debut, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, which made it feel even more personal to reinterpret in this collection. Cross My Heart reflects my fascination with crosses, a form I was first captivated by while visiting churches and museums in Russia and Italy. For Flower Power, I wanted to bring together my love for pink and my fascination with florals. Flowers, to me, embody both fragility and resilience, and this capsule is a reminder that while blossoms fade, jewels are endured.
Q: What are your early memories of designing, wearing or collecting luxury jewellery pieces?
Shalini: I’ve always been a collector at heart. Whether it was outfits in every colour, hairpins, or jewellery, I’ve loved surrounding myself with beautiful things. Jewellery, especially, has always excited me—each piece feels like it carries its own story, a little fragment of memory that stays with you.
