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Chef Vikas KhannaHis life story is a profound journey stuffed with resilience, humility and purpose.
Born in India with a congenital foot defect and facing discrimination and hardship, he defied expectations and became one of the most famous Indian chefs in the world.
Khanna’s grandmother she inspired him by teaching him the fantastic thing about Indian cuisine and the cyclical nature of life. Despite countless setbacks, including homelessness and personal loss, Khanna became a voice for those in need and an advocate for her Indian heritage. He is committed to doing meaningful and impactful work that transcends the culinary world.
His early experiences laid the foundation for his culinary passion, which culminated in him becoming a Michelin-starred chef and host MasterChef Indiawriter of over 35 books and director of documentary movies. These projects reflect his commitment to representing Indian culture internationally.
Chef at a crossroads
During a difficult period that forced him to close his restaurant, Khanna found himself at a crossroads, looking for guidance and inspiration. A probability encounter with His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave him the affirmation he needed: “When every thing ends, it’s good because it sets you free. It’s time to start over,” he recalls saying from the Dalai Lama.
Propelled by these words, Khanna embarked on a transformational journey through Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, northern India, Burma, western China and Pakistan, recording his reflections and immersing himself in diverse cultures.
This experience led to the creation The magazine was nominated for a James Beard Award. For Khanna, failure was not the end, but a powerful catalyst for discovering recent paths, starting his journey of self-discovery and growth.
In his New York restaurant One-story houseopening in 2024, Khanna’s dishes reflect personal stories, corresponding to a lotus root dish in honor of the woman who gave him shelter during the Mumbai riots, highlighting his combination of culinary art and life experience.
Bungalow fulfills his late sister’s dream of making the best Indian restaurant in the world, the culmination of his extraordinary profession, before he devotes himself fully to his mission to fight hunger in India.
Bungalow embodies Khanna’s belief that restaurants must make progressive changes to revitalize the industry. “Restaurants have to come up with something new,” he tells Shawn Walchef California BBQ Media. “There is a new energy coming into the company and most guests will be looking for something new. Restaurants must involve many experiences. They need to motivate people to leave the comfort of home and move to a new space and find the creativity and energy of community there.”
Khanna’s work extends beyond the kitchen; his Feed India Millions of meals were served thanks to this initiative. Driven by deep empathy for marginalized groups, Khanna also highlighted the struggles of Indian widows The last colora novel and film inspired by the situation of widows’ isolation during Holi, the festival of colours.
This moving portrait screened at over 100 film festivals, making Khanna a global ambassador for the film Global Widows Fund. His mission to shed light on the plight of 350 million disenfranchised widows around the world has led to profound social change and empowered women to regain their voices.
“[People said]“stick to cooking.” I said no, follow your heart,” says Khanna. “It’s amazing how a film can touch so many people and I’m so proud that I made it.”
Combining his love for Indian cuisine and uplifting the disenfranchised, Khanna is also a staunch advocate for cultural celebration and social change. His 1,200-page book titled Utsav: the culinary epic of Indian festivalscaptures the spirit of Indian festivals and traditions.
Khanna personally delivered copies of the book to global icons corresponding to Queen Elizabeth, President Barack Obama and Pope Francis.
“It started with a small idea, but then I became obsessed with rediscovering India,” Khanna says of the inspiration behind the book. “It’s great for me because I have this knowledge and information about recipes and celebrations, so I can create something like this.”
Despite countless setbacks, Khanna has develop into a voice for the unsung and an advocate for Indian heritage. His work includes a commitment to meaningful, impactful work beyond the culinary world.
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