Every Indian’s Go-to Cookbook

The first celebrity chef in India, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is the heart of Indian cooking. He is one of those individuals who is the first to be looked upon in matters concerning the art of culinary. Hailing from a small town in Haryana, he never planned to become a chef. With various cooking shows and a lot of love from the public for his easy-to-cook recipes, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has paved the way for the new generation of celebrity chefs.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Source: Your Story

The man who is responsible for making us fall in love with not just eating but also cooking those delicacies is Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. During the days of Doordarshan when the Indian television had just one channel, Zee TV was launched. And with several TV serials came a unique show called 'Khana Khazana', which aired for almost 20 years in over 150 countries. Who does not remember our moms watching those tips and tricks in order to elevate their cooking, and how we were glued to our televisions to watch recipes we had never even heard of? But before we learn about how Chef Sanjeev Kapoor stole a plethora of hearts, let's see how he became a chef.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was a brilliant child who spent most of his life in New Delhi and excelled in his studies. He had a well-to-do family background. His father was in banking, and he was always told to pursue engineering. After completing his schooling, he had two choices to consider: either becoming an architect or studying hotel management. Sanjeev Kapoor was always determined to do something different. He joined the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa, and started his culinary journey. During those days, the majority of people did not look up to the culinary profession. In India, nobody was aware of what the French word "chef" even meant. They were always referred to as "Bawarchi" or "Maharaj." It wasn't demeaning, but due to a lack of recognition, not many people were interested in learning this art.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor in Khana Khazana, Source: Wikipedia

After his graduation, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor started working in a five-star hotel. There, he came to the realization that he was asked to work as a mere helper. The head chefs in the restaurant did not believe in teaching the juniors. Whenever he asked them about a particular recipe, he was asked to fetch something from the fridge or bring utensils from the storeroom. By the time he returned, the dish would have been completely ready. Nobody was willing to share their secrets. This angered him, and at that moment, he promised himself that he would never hide his recipes but instead teach as many people as he could. He started experimenting with his food and learned thousands of recipes while imparting that knowledge through teaching. He started teaching his juniors, his fellow chefs, and to the entire world through his cooking shows.

With that initiative in mind, Sanjeev Kapoor worked hard and became the head chef of the hotel. On one such day, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor heard that some high-profile individuals were going to dine in the restaurant. He walked into the lobby to meet the guests when he was stopped by the general manager, who asked him why he was in the lobby. When Sanjeev Kapoor said that he wanted to know the guests' preferences, the manager immediately stopped him and asked him to leave. He said that the chef must stay in the kitchen and is not allowed to speak to the guests. This incident marked a dent in his thought process, as he realized this was how Indian housewives were treated and how this art was not much appreciated in the country.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor receiving a Padma Shri, Source: Sanjeev Kapoor

Slowly, he started working in different restaurants, and he became the 'Best Executive Chef' in the country. With that, his popularity started to increase. That's when Zee TV approached him to launch a cooking show. Initially, Sanjeev Kapoor rejected the offer as the show was named "Sriman Bawarchi." Later, it was renamed "Khana Khazana," which became instantly famous, to the point that the first few episodes ran for several weeks on repeat. This show was influential to a great extent, and everyone started experimenting in their kitchens while celebrating the art of cooking.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor in MasterChef India, Source: Amirates

With the advancement of technology, he was able to reach a wider audience, and with his popularity, he started several other businesses under his brand name. He launched the 24-hour food channel "Food Food" in 2011, published more than 100 recipe books with over 500 recipes in each, introduced his product "Khazana Masala," and developed his own kitchenware product called "Wonder Chef." He even had the opportunity to serve the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. With his sheer determination, he was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 2017. He gained even more popularity among today's generation when he became a judge on the beloved show "Masterchef India" on Star Plus. Through his journey, he has inspired thousands of younger generations to pursue the art of culinary science.