MasterChef India
Encyclopedia
MasterChef India is a Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by FremantleMedia
and screens on Star Plus
. Actor Akshay Kumar
(season 1) Restaurateur and chef Vikas Khanna
(season 2), chef Ajay Chopra and chef Kunal Kapoor serve as the show's main judges. Actor Akshay Kumar
hosted the first season, however His role was dropped at the end of the season and in season 2 chef Vikas Khanna
took his role.
Season 1 of show started airing on STAR Plus
from on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
. The first episode aired on 16 October 2010, and the season one finale was broadcast on 25 December 2010. The first winner of MasterChef India was Pankaj Bhadouria, a 38 year old Teacher from Lucknow
, She runs cookery show on Star Plus.. Season 1 Was hosted by Actor Akshay Kumar
who worked as a chef in Bangkok
previous to his acting career, along with chef Ajay Chopra who is working as an Executive Chef at Goa Marriott Resort, Goa
, and chef Kunal Kapoor an Executive Chef at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon
.
Season 2 of MasterChef India premiered on 22 October 2011. The second season aired on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
. Season 2 Was hosted by chef Vikas Khanna
a well acclaimed chef in New York City. The season has already started with a good response, along with chef Ajay Chopra and chef Kunal Kapoor.
The semi-finalists then compete in several challenges which test their food knowledge and preparation skills. In Season 1, the top 50 competed until 20 were left, with the final 20 progressing to the main stage of the show. From Season 2, 24 contestants progress. The contestants will then be whittled down through a number of individual and team-based cooking challenges and weekly elimination rounds until a winning MasterChef is crowned. The winner plays for a prize that includes chef training from leading professional chefs, the chance to have their own cookbook
published, and A$100,000 in cash.
from on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
. The first episode aired on 16 October 2010, and the season one finale was broadcast on 25 December 2010. The first winner of MasterChef India was Pankaj Bhadouria, a 38 year old Teacher from Lucknow
, She runs cookery show on Star Plus. Season 1 Was hosted by Actor Akshay kumar
who worked as a chef in Bangkok
previous to his acting career, along with chef Ajay Chopra who is working as an Executive Chef at Goa Marriott Resort, Goa
, and chef Kunal Kapoor an Executive Chef at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon
.
.
The TOP 12 of the show were -
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
and screens on Star Plus
STAR Plus
STAR Plus is a Hindi language general entertainment television channel based in India. The channel is part of the STAR TV network's bouquet of channels...
. Actor Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
(season 1) Restaurateur and chef Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India . He is based in New York City.- Life and career :...
(season 2), chef Ajay Chopra and chef Kunal Kapoor serve as the show's main judges. Actor Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
hosted the first season, however His role was dropped at the end of the season and in season 2 chef Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India . He is based in New York City.- Life and career :...
took his role.
Season 1 of show started airing on STAR Plus
STAR Plus
STAR Plus is a Hindi language general entertainment television channel based in India. The channel is part of the STAR TV network's bouquet of channels...
from on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
Indian Standard Time
Indian Standard Time is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a time offset of UTC+05:30. India does not observe daylight saving time or other seasonal adjustments, although DST was used briefly during the Sino–Indian War of 1962 and the Indo–Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971...
. The first episode aired on 16 October 2010, and the season one finale was broadcast on 25 December 2010. The first winner of MasterChef India was Pankaj Bhadouria, a 38 year old Teacher from Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, She runs cookery show on Star Plus.. Season 1 Was hosted by Actor Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
who worked as a chef in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
previous to his acting career, along with chef Ajay Chopra who is working as an Executive Chef at Goa Marriott Resort, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, and chef Kunal Kapoor an Executive Chef at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon
Gurgaon
Gurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...
.
Season 2 of MasterChef India premiered on 22 October 2011. The second season aired on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
Indian Standard Time
Indian Standard Time is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a time offset of UTC+05:30. India does not observe daylight saving time or other seasonal adjustments, although DST was used briefly during the Sino–Indian War of 1962 and the Indo–Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971...
. Season 2 Was hosted by chef Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India . He is based in New York City.- Life and career :...
a well acclaimed chef in New York City. The season has already started with a good response, along with chef Ajay Chopra and chef Kunal Kapoor.
Format
MasterChef India features a different format to that of the original British MasterChef and MasterChef Goes Large formats. Initial rounds consist of a large number of hopeful contestants from across India individually "auditioning" by presenting a food dish before the three judges in order to gain one of 50 semi-final places. Entrants must be over 18 years old whose main source of income cannot come from preparing and cooking fresh food in a professional environment.The semi-finalists then compete in several challenges which test their food knowledge and preparation skills. In Season 1, the top 50 competed until 20 were left, with the final 20 progressing to the main stage of the show. From Season 2, 24 contestants progress. The contestants will then be whittled down through a number of individual and team-based cooking challenges and weekly elimination rounds until a winning MasterChef is crowned. The winner plays for a prize that includes chef training from leading professional chefs, the chance to have their own cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
published, and A$100,000 in cash.
Season 1
Season 1 of show started airing on STAR PlusSTAR Plus
STAR Plus is a Hindi language general entertainment television channel based in India. The channel is part of the STAR TV network's bouquet of channels...
from on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST
Indian Standard Time
Indian Standard Time is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a time offset of UTC+05:30. India does not observe daylight saving time or other seasonal adjustments, although DST was used briefly during the Sino–Indian War of 1962 and the Indo–Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971...
. The first episode aired on 16 October 2010, and the season one finale was broadcast on 25 December 2010. The first winner of MasterChef India was Pankaj Bhadouria, a 38 year old Teacher from Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, She runs cookery show on Star Plus. Season 1 Was hosted by Actor Akshay kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
who worked as a chef in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
previous to his acting career, along with chef Ajay Chopra who is working as an Executive Chef at Goa Marriott Resort, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, and chef Kunal Kapoor an Executive Chef at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon
Gurgaon
Gurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...
.
Contestants
The top 12 contestants were chosen throughout the first week of challenges amongst the top 40. The full group of 12 were revealed on Sunday, October 24:| Contestant | Age | From | Occupation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Bhadouria | 38 | Lucknow Lucknow Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.... |
Teacher | Winner on December 25, 2010 |
| Jayanandan Bhaskar | 24 | Lucknow Lucknow Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.... |
Employed as a Chef at Leela Kempinski hotel Gurgaon | Runner-Up on December 25, 2010 |
| Radhicka Agarwaal | 28 | Dehradun Dehradun - Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level... |
Event Manager | Third Place on December 25, 2010 |
| Joe Bath | 42 | Delhi Delhi Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census... |
TV Show host | Eliminated December 19, 2010 |
| Kandla Nijhowne | 54 | Chandigarh Chandigarh Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city... |
Food Columnist | Eliminated December 19, 2010 |
| Zebi Zubair | 28 | Lucknow Lucknow Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.... |
Housewife | Eliminated December 12, 2010 |
| Smita Dugar | 38 | Hyderabad | Artist | Eliminated December 05, 2010 |
| Sweta Pareekh | 28 | Jaipur Jaipur Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million.... |
Banker | Eliminated November 28, 2010 |
| Ankita Chakravarty | 19 | Noida Noida Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization... |
Student | Eliminated November 28, 2010 |
| Pritesh Chothani | 28 | Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
Asst. Manager | Eliminated November 14, 2010 |
| Parul Sukhwani | 23 | Indore Indore Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631... |
Radio Jockey | Eliminated November 07, 2010 |
| Archana Chauhan | 39 | Meerut | Housewife | Eliminated October 31, 2010 |
Season 2
Second season of MasterChef India premiered on 22nd October, 2011. The season is judged and presented by Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Kunal Kapoor and Chef Vikas KhannaVikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India . He is based in New York City.- Life and career :...
.
The TOP 12 of the show were -
- Vijaylaxmi
- Shipra Khanna
- Shahzad Variava
- Salma Shazia Fathima
- Rajendra Mane
- Puneet Mehta
- Jyoti Arora
- Joseph Rozario
- Dolcee Pratik
- Rajat Nagpal - eliminated on 20th November 2011
- Hiral Agrawal- eliminated on 13th November 2011
- Devika Narula - eliminated on 6th November 2011