"It's Okay If It's a Different Girl Every Time": Tabinda Sanpal's "Desi Bling" Comment Sparks Outrage Over Normalising Infidelity

A single remark from Tabinda Sanpal on Netflix's Desi Bling has become one of the most talked-about moments of the series — and not for the reasons the Dubai-based couple might have hoped.

While filming a scene with other female cast members, Tabinda — wife of Dubai billionaire and ANAX Holding founder Satish Sanpal — spoke openly about her husband going out with other women. She said that Satish goes out partying and that she knows he goes out with girls, adding that a different girl every time was acceptable, but the same girl repeatedly would be a problem. She also remarked that a party of Satish's couldn't happen without girls.

The moment quickly went viral, with many viewers accusing the couple of normalising infidelity. Reactions poured in across social media, with one viewer asking whether wives were now normalising husbands having girlfriends, and others calling the dynamic "disgusting" and "nonsense." One widely shared comment said the marriage model "needs anthropological study," pointing to Tabinda's claim of owning 40 kg of gold, her annual Dhanteras gold gifts, and her routine of massaging her husband's feet each morning so he "wakes like a prince" — and asking what, exactly, this was being sold as.

The criticism extended beyond anonymous users. Filmmaker Lakshmi R Iyer publicly slammed the couple for normalising infidelity in marriage, remarking on how low standards had fallen.

The comment also fed into a broader debate about the values the show appears to promote. Commentators noted that Satish has openly described his priorities as money first, his daughter Bella second, and his wife third — while Tabinda's descriptions of trimming his nails and giving daily foot massages, framed as inviting prosperity into the home, drew accusations that the series quietly glorifies outdated and unequal gender roles. One opinion piece described Tabinda as "the boss of the trad-wife multiverse," warning that some viewers might begin to romanticise the submissive lifestyle she appears to sell.

As of now, neither Satish nor Tabinda Sanpal has issued a formal response to the backlash, and the couple has previously faced similar criticism over their relationship dynamic. What was likely intended as a candid glimpse into an ultra-luxurious Dubai marriage has instead become a flashpoint in a much larger conversation about wealth, gender and what reality TV chooses to celebrate.