Vikas Khanna


Vikas Khanna is an Indian Michelin star Chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, filmmaker and humanitarian. He is one of the judges of Star Plus series MasterChef India. He is based in New York City.

Early life and education

Khanna was born in Amritsar, India to Davinder and Bindu Khanna. He was born with misaligned feet and wasn't able to run until he was 13. He was inspired by his mentor Sagar Rajani who loved to cook, and his kitchen became a part of his foundational training.
Khanna began developing recipes at a very young age and opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and family functions when he was 17. He graduated from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 1991.
Vikas Khanna also received an honorary doctorate at GD Goenka University as a recognition for his outstanding work in culinary art philanthropy, altruism and humanitarianism and his global reach as a chef.
He has also studied at Cornell University, Culinary Institute of America and New York University.

Career

While in India, Khanna worked for the Taj Hotels, Oberoi group, Welcome group, and Leela Group of Hotels.
Khanna had 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. Junoon received a favorable review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times in its inaugural year and was awarded a Michelin star by the Michelin Guide for 6 consecutive years since 2011.
He has also worked with some of the most influential and award-winning chefs of the world like Gordon Ramsay, Eric Ripert, Bobby Flay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Television shows

In 2011, Khanna hosted the 2nd season of MasterChef India, 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.
He has hosted four seasons of the show Twist of Taste on Fox Life.
Khanna was featured as a Consultant chef 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.
He has appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as a judge and as a guest chef on The Martha Stewart Show.

Film production

Khanna has produced a documentary series named Holy Kitchens, which explores the bond between faith and food. The series has been showcased at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Oxford Universities and Film Festivals.
His documentary "Kitchens of Gratitude" was featured at Marche du Film at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.
His directorial debut 'The Last Color' is a film about the daily struggles for survival on the streets of the ancient city of Banaras, India. The teaser of the film featuring veteran Indian actress Neena Gupta was released at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. The film made it to the final list of Oscar 2019 Nomination for Best Film.

Philanthropy

Khanna launched the foundation "South Asian Kid's Infinite Vision" to focus on worldwide issues that demand urgent action such as Tsunami Relief, Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast, Haiti. In collaboration with charitable institutions, such as Save the Children, the foundation has hosted many events worldwide - from The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt to the Taj Mahal in India.
In 2018 Vikas Khanna has built the first Culinary museum of India at his alma mater Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal
"Cooking for Life" founded by Khanna in 2001 in New York along with the world's top chefs supports several social causes.
Vision of Palate is his award-winning workshop developed to educate people with visual disabilities about the sense of taste, flavor and aromas.
On 14 May 2012, Khanna cooked for a fundraiser hosted for President Obama at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City
Khanna is the goodwill ambassador for Smile Foundation and supports the cause of malnutrition in India. He has pledged to raise 1 million US dollars for the same.

Awards and Recognitions