Vikas Khanna is an Indian-American[1] celebrity chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, and filmmaker. He has been one of the judges on MasterChef India since the show began.
In 2019, he opened a restaurant called Kinara in Dubai.[9] In 2020, he opened a restaurant called Ellora in Dubai.[10] In 2024, he opened a restaurant, Bungalow in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.[11][12][13] Khanna has authored more than 40 books. One of his books Magnum opus - Utsav was auctioned as the world's most expensive cookbook. He also actively supports the cause of nutrition in India and is the goodwill ambassador of Smile Foundation.[14]
Television shows
From 2011, Khanna hosted seven seasons of MasterChef India (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) a series based on the original British version. He has been hosting all the seasons of the show since then. Khanna was invited as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia in Season 6.[15] He appeared as a Consultant chef to help a failing Indian restaurant named Purnima on the Gordon Ramsay TV series Kitchen Nightmares. Khanna appeared as a judge and an Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen.[16]
His directorial debut The Last Color is a film about the daily struggles for survival on the streets of Banaras, India.[18]
Public advocacy
In January 2026, Vikas Khanna drew public attention to hygiene concerns at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after sharing images of worn and dusty carpets inside the terminal.[19] Describing the condition as “beyond cleaning,” he urged airport authorities to remove the carpets, citing potential health risks for passengers, especially those with respiratory issues.[20] The airport authorities acknowledged his concerns and stated that corrective measures would be taken, prioritising passenger health and comfort.[21]
The Shining Star Award from "Just One Break, Inc."[29]
Featured on the cover of Men's Health India Magazine in 2012.[30]
He was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by the New York Eaterblog.[31]
His New York based restaurant “Bungalow” won Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand award.[32]
Chef Vikas Khanna was awarded the highest Rotary honor, the Paul Harris Fellow, by Priya Ahluwalia from the SWFL Rotary Club, and was also inducted as an honorary member of the club.[33]
In 2024, Chef Vikas Khanna joined Rotary leaders from the SWFL Rotary Club in launching a literacy initiative at a NASDAQ event in New York, highlighting the role of education and service in global development.[34]
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