Vikas Khanna

Vikas Khanna is an Indian-American chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and filmmaker whose career spans continents and disciplines in the culinary industry. Born with a leg deformity, Khanna was unable to run until age 13, but this challenge did not deter his ambitions. Inspired by his grandmother, whose kitchen served as his foundational training ground, Khanna began developing recipes at a young age and opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and family functions at 17.

After training at several of India's leading hotel groups, including Taj Hotels, Oberoi Group, Welcome Group, and Leela Group of Hotels, Khanna pursued further studies at the Culinary Institute of America and New York University, eventually establishing his base in New York City.

Khanna worked at Salaam Bombay and The Café at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York before joining Junoon, an upscale Indian restaurant in Manhattan's Flatiron district. Junoon received a favorable review in The New York Times in its inaugural year and was awarded a Michelin star by the Michelin Guide for six consecutive years. An eight-time Michelin-starred chef, Khanna has contributed to the global recognition of Indian cuisine through his culinary expertise and storytelling. His restaurant Bungalow in New York City offers a cultural tribute to India's heritage and flavors through immersive dining experiences.

Gordon Ramsay featured Khanna as Top Indian Chef in New York City on "Kitchen Nightmares," and he appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of "Hell's Kitchen."

From season 2 through season 8, Khanna hosted "MasterChef India" and has continued to host all subsequent seasons. He was also invited as a guest judge on "MasterChef Australia" in season 6. In addition to his television presence, Khanna is recognized as an authority on Indian cuisine and has authored more than 25 cookbooks. His book "Flavors First" received the Benjamin Franklin Award, and he earned a James Beard Foundation Award nomination for "Return to the Rivers." His work "UTSAV — A Culinary Epic of Indian Festivals" became the world's most expensive cookbook and was launched at the Cannes Film Festival; hand-painted, gold-gilded copies were presented to President Obama, the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, and Queen Elizabeth II.

Khanna's creative pursuits extend beyond the kitchen. His directorial debut, "The Last Color," explores daily struggles for survival on the streets of Banaras, India, and was included in the final list of Oscar eligibility for Best Film. His documentary series "Holy Kitchens," which examines the connection between faith and food, has been showcased at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, and other universities and film festivals. He has received the Access to Freedom Award, Eleanor Roosevelt's Shining Star Award, and GQ Man of the Year, and was recognized by Deutsche Welle as one of the "10 Global Legendary Chefs who've revolutionized our eating habits."

Khanna's influence extends to humanitarian efforts. He launched the #FeedIndia movement in partnership with India's National Disaster Relief Force, which received support from grain companies, tech firms, and industrial kitchen providers in Mumbai. The initiative delivered more than 30 million dry food packets and cooked meals to hundreds of cities throughout India, earning him recognition as an Asia Society Game Changer. Time magazine included Khanna in its Time100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, underscoring his impact on global cuisine and humanitarian work.