Vikas Khanna has been one of the most enduring faces of MasterChef India, and in a candid conversation with Midday, the celebrated chef opened up about the show’s evolving concept and what keeps drawing him back year after year.
Vikas Khanna talks about his joy on being a part of MasterChef India for 16 years
Expressing his joy over the platform, he said, “I love it. I feel it`s a beautiful moment for Indian food to be celebrated like this.” Reflecting on his long association with the show, he added, “I feel that being a part of a show for 16 years consistently and trying to tell the story of India and be the pollinator between East and West. I think it`s a very big advantage, opportunity and also responsibility.”
Despite his popularity on television, Khanna admitted that fame was never his goal. “I never aspire to come on TV. I am not that guy, but it`s okay. Life got me this opportunity, so I am just honoring it. But I am not that guy. I just love being in my kitchen spaces and my restaurant and to be behind the camera. I prefer that. That`s why you see so much less of me and whatever has been put is very much not on your face.”
For him, influence comes with purpose. “I feel that you need to have something of value. I just feel to be a person of such high influence, you don`t have to be an influencer, you have to be somebody who fights on the battlefield every day and that`s what I love doing myself.” He also shared how the show serves as creative fuel. “It`s good that I get a break. I spend time with Ranveer Brar. And for me, new aspirations happen from during my masterchef. Could be books, movies, documentaries, different products. For me, it`s a training ground. Mom comes to stay with me. I don`t have a bigger motivation than that. And then it also helps me to connect with millions of people back home.”
Vikas Khanna on the new concept of MasterChef India
Khanna believes the platform carries global responsibility. “But also this gives me a lot of thought of how and what communication I want to take of India to the world and having such a majestic platform which God has blessed me with. It`s only possible that, you know, very few roads are two ways and God gave me this two way road.” Speaking about conversations with Priyanka Chopra, he revealed, “Every time we discuss this with Priyanka also, she says that, you know, we are so fortunate, both of us, that we are in both the countries equally present and equally working, hustling and telling the story of India. I think this is a very great moment for Indian culture and cuisine and arts.”
Talking about the latest jodi concept, he reflected on India’s unique emotional fabric. “I do feel that, you know, having spent most of my life in the West, I feel that the jodis concert of MasterChef can only happen in India. There is no connection in the outside world that somebody would sacrifice their time and energy to support somebody`s dream like this. Here, mother, father, father in law, all those, so much, so much happens in India. So much gets invested into others. So for me, seeing this, I really enjoy it and I love it. And spending these six weeks around in a country that I was born and raised in, which gave me everything I have, I feel that this jodi season has made me reflect to the relationships that we hold so dear in this country.”
