Bigg Boss 19's Tanya Mittal hits back after being called Shalini Passi's 'sasti copy'
Tanya Mittal hit back after a journalist called her a 'sasti copy' of Shalini Passi. She said her decade-long journey was built through struggle and asked the media to report facts, not insults.
Bigg Boss 19 contestant and entrepreneur Tanya Mittal has strongly reacted after a journalist referred to her as a "sasti copy" of Shalini Passi. In a lengthy note, she opened up about her decade-long journey, struggles and the work behind her success.
The controversy began after a journalist reportedly compared Tanya to Shalini Passi and suggested that she primarily showcases her wealth. Reacting to the remark, Tanya said she had spent the last 10 years building her career from scratch and did not appreciate her journey being reduced to a comparison.
In a long note shared on Instagram, Tanya reflected on the personal and professional challenges she faced before becoming a recognised content creator and entrepreneur.
"Before judging my journey, at least have the decency to truly understand it," she wrote.
Tanya revealed that she had walked away from her education a decade ago and stood against her family because she did not want her life to be defined by an early marriage. "It wasn't easy—it was painful, lonely—but I chose to fight for a life I believed in," she said.
Here's the note:
'I built everything with my own hands'
The content creator shared that she began her entrepreneurial journey by making handmade greeting cards in a small room. She would travel to Delhi's Sadar Bazaar to purchase raw materials and sell her products online.
"From greeting cards to sarees, from packing every single order myself to creating content, I built everything with my own hands, piece by piece," she wrote.
Tanya also recalled the setbacks she faced while trying to establish herself online. She said losing her Instagram page felt like losing everything she had built, but she chose to start over rather than give up.
She added that she later began creating temple-related content to celebrate Indian culture but was often mocked and trolled for it.
"I kept travelling, filming, creating—alone, but never defeated," she wrote.
'Entire country stood against me. Yet, I endured it all'
Referring to her stint on Bigg Boss 19, Tanya claimed she faced intense criticism during the show. "I went to Bigg Boss, and the entire country seemed to turn against me. Not one person stood up for me. Not one voice spoke in my defense. And yet, I endured it all," she said.
The entrepreneur concluded her note by firmly rejecting comparisons with anyone else. "So before calling me someone's 'copy,' understand this: I am no one's copy. I am the original story of my own life," she wrote.
She also stressed that everything she has achieved belongs to her and is not the result of support from a father, boyfriend or brother. "Everything I have is mine. Not my father's. Not my boyfriend's. Not my brother's. Mine," Tanya said.
While Tanya Mittal is known as an entrepreneur, influencer and former Bigg Boss 19 contestant, Shalini Passi rose to nationwide fame after appearing in Netflix's Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives. An art collector and philanthropist, Passi has become one of the most talked-about personalities in the OTT reality TV space.
Tanya's response has since sparked discussion online, with many social media users debating whether public figures should be compared based on their lifestyles and online personas.
Bigg Boss 19 contestant and entrepreneur Tanya Mittal has strongly reacted after a journalist referred to her as a "sasti copy" of Shalini Passi. In a lengthy note, she opened up about her decade-long journey, struggles and the work behind her success.
The controversy began after a journalist reportedly compared Tanya to Shalini Passi and suggested that she primarily showcases her wealth. Reacting to the remark, Tanya said she had spent the last 10 years building her career from scratch and did not appreciate her journey being reduced to a comparison.
In a long note shared on Instagram, Tanya reflected on the personal and professional challenges she faced before becoming a recognised content creator and entrepreneur.
"Before judging my journey, at least have the decency to truly understand it," she wrote.
Tanya revealed that she had walked away from her education a decade ago and stood against her family because she did not want her life to be defined by an early marriage. "It wasn't easy—it was painful, lonely—but I chose to fight for a life I believed in," she said.
Here's the note:
'I built everything with my own hands'
The content creator shared that she began her entrepreneurial journey by making handmade greeting cards in a small room. She would travel to Delhi's Sadar Bazaar to purchase raw materials and sell her products online.
"From greeting cards to sarees, from packing every single order myself to creating content, I built everything with my own hands, piece by piece," she wrote.
Tanya also recalled the setbacks she faced while trying to establish herself online. She said losing her Instagram page felt like losing everything she had built, but she chose to start over rather than give up.
She added that she later began creating temple-related content to celebrate Indian culture but was often mocked and trolled for it.
"I kept travelling, filming, creating—alone, but never defeated," she wrote.
'Entire country stood against me. Yet, I endured it all'
Referring to her stint on Bigg Boss 19, Tanya claimed she faced intense criticism during the show. "I went to Bigg Boss, and the entire country seemed to turn against me. Not one person stood up for me. Not one voice spoke in my defense. And yet, I endured it all," she said.
The entrepreneur concluded her note by firmly rejecting comparisons with anyone else. "So before calling me someone's 'copy,' understand this: I am no one's copy. I am the original story of my own life," she wrote.
She also stressed that everything she has achieved belongs to her and is not the result of support from a father, boyfriend or brother. "Everything I have is mine. Not my father's. Not my boyfriend's. Not my brother's. Mine," Tanya said.
While Tanya Mittal is known as an entrepreneur, influencer and former Bigg Boss 19 contestant, Shalini Passi rose to nationwide fame after appearing in Netflix's Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives. An art collector and philanthropist, Passi has become one of the most talked-about personalities in the OTT reality TV space.
Tanya's response has since sparked discussion online, with many social media users debating whether public figures should be compared based on their lifestyles and online personas.
