Vikas Khanna | |
---|---|
![]() Khanna in 2012 | |
Born | 1971or1972(age 52–53) |
Nationality | Indian |
Education | |
Style | Indian cuisine |
Relatives | Radhika Khanna (sister) |
Vikas Khanna (born 1971 or 1972) is an Indian-American [1] Michelin star celebrity chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, and filmmaker. He is one of the judges of MasterChef India since its beginning.
Khanna was born in Amritsar, India in a Punjabi family. [2] [3] He did his schooling at St. Francis School, Amritsar. [4] He was born with a leg deformity (club foot) and wasn't able to run until he was 13 years old. He graduated Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 1991 where he studied hotel management. [5] He then studied at Culinary Institute of America and New York University.[ citation needed ]
He received an honorary doctorate at GD Goenka University. [6]
While in India, Khanna worked for the Taj Hotels, Oberoi group, Welcome group, and Leela Group of Hotels.[ citation needed ] Khanna worked at Salaam Bombay and The Café at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York before he joined Junoon, an upscale Indian restaurant in Flatiron district of Manhattan. [7] [4]
In 2019, he opened a restaurant called Kinara in Dubai. [8] In 2020, he opened a restaurant called Ellora in Dubai. [9] In 2024, he opened a restaurant, Bungalow in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.[ citation needed ] Khanna has authored more than 25 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. [10]
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. [11] 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 . [12]
His documentary Kitchens of Gratitude was featured at Marche du Film at the 69th Cannes Film Festival. [13]
His directorial debut The Last Color is a film about the daily struggles for survival on the streets of Banaras, India. [14]
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