Sanjeev Kapoor wants to rewrite MasterChef India: 'I have my own way of looking at food'
Lights, camera, food! That's exactly how a food show rolls in celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's philosophy. He's got the culinary skills, he's got the charm
Lights, camera, food! That's exactly how a food show rolls in celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's philosophy. He's got the culinary skills, he's got the charm, and he's got his own idea of what a food show format should be. The Padma Shree awardee comes with decades of experience of serving food on television. How people learn skills by watching videos, it's safe to say that Kapoor's Khana Khazna was the OG in that aspect. He can be credited with inspiring generations to build a career in the field and has also helped Indian flavours travel beyond our borders. Read Full Story And Kapoor's culinary legacy isn't limited to India. His arrival as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia – welcomed with genuine warmth and roaring applause – was proof that he is a global phenomenon and resonates far beyond home. In an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, Kapoor shared about his experience, food (of course) and shows, and revealed his take on MasterChef India. Rewriting MasterChef India This isn't the first time Kapoor has spoken candidly about MasterChef India. In an earlier interview, he revealed that he had turned down the show's first season after asking for Re 1 more than Akshay Kumar, who eventually hosted it. Kapoor later joined as a judge for Seasons 2 and 3. When asked why he eventually stepped away, he hinted at a wobbly start. "'Woh bhi toh chef haina, unhone bhi toh restaurant mai kaam kiya hai.' Toh aap shuruat kisi cheez ki aise kar rahe ho toh kaise chalega.
The seriousness of it, the foundation is very important. And they made a choice, I was not there..." (He was a chef too, he's worked in restaurants too. But if that's how you're starting, how will it work? The foundation matters.) Calling it a "mutual choice," Kapoor added, "I have my own way of looking at food, and that's not going to change. For me, if I am putting effort into something, it has to produce the kind of results it is meant to produce. I've always preferred doing meaningful things." While he still returns occasionally for the finale or special episodes, Kapoor says his recent experience on MasterChef Australia has only strengthened his beliefs about food shows. "After this, I can honestly say that if I were given the opportunity, I would want to rewrite the way MasterChef India has been done." Sanjeev Kapoor was welcomed with thunderous applause and warmth in MasterChef Australia (Photo: Sanjeev Kapoor/Instagram) For Kapoor, MasterChef and such food shows have always been bigger than a television show. It's a platform that can change careers, inspire confidence and open doors that many aspiring chefs may never otherwise find. Having spent decades mentoring and teaching, he remains a firm believer in creating more such opportunities. "Given a choice, I would still want to do it because opportunities like these don't come easily in people's lives. If the show shuts down, those opportunities become fewer too. According to Kapoor, India may still be chasing world-class excellence in many fields, but food is one arena where the country has an edge.
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