Take us through your journey to becoming a chef.

My journey to becoming a chef has been incredible. I started cooking at 12, inspired by Mumbai’s street food and my family. After cooking my first meal and seeing the happiness it brought, I knew I wanted to be a chef. I pursued hotel management and culinary school, then worked in restaurants. I became a food producer for MasterChef India Season 4 and started my content creation journey with Your Food Lab in 2016.

Interesting anecdotes from your Masterchef days

I still remember my first day on the sets of MasterChef India, where I had to trial a recipe with Chef Ranveer Brar. I was star struck, having looked up to him, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, and Chef Vikas Khanna. Spending a couple of months with them was an incredible journey.

Did you get any tips from them?

Chef Vikas Khanna told me about his journey from Amritsar to becoming a Michelin-starred chef in the US. I learned a lot from Chef Ranveer Brar, especially about plating and using shapes and colours. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor always encouraged me to experiment and research. One statement that stuck with me was, “Always talk to your ingredients.” He meant that I should learn about each ingredient separately, understand its flavour, aroma, and pairing possibilities.

Do you think Food shows are yet to take off in India?

Food shows have always been there from Chef Sanjeev Kapoor during his Khana Khazana to Tarla Dalal. Food shows in India have traditionally focused on recipes, but I believe there’s room for more. That’s why I created Chef It Up, a show that brings food and fun together. I think Indians are looking for more than just recipe content; they want food-related stories and experiences.

Name three popular chefs you look up to?

I learn from everyone I meet. I have been inspired by street food vendors in Mumbai, home cooks, and even my own family members, like my dadi and parents.

Cooking as a hobby is fine, but turning it into a career as a source of income isn’t easy at all. What were your thoughts when you decided to take this up seriously?

I never thought about the business side of being a chef until I started my journey. My focus was on cooking the best food, learning new skills, and standing out. I knew that money would follow. When I became a content creator in 2016, it was an unconventional career choice. My mission was to make food more approachable for audiences. I realized that many people couldn’t travel or dine at fine restaurants, so I wanted to present food in a way that everyone could cook amazing dishes at home.

Today, Your Food Lab has created over 3,000 recipe videos, and we receive testimonials from around the globe. Food is a big industry, and I believe cooking is an art that deserves celebration. While cooking as a hobby is great, taking it up as a career requires dedication, discipline, and passion.

What’s your comfort food on a bad day?

My comfort food varies depending on my mood, but it’s usually something like butter chicken, crispy butter garlic naan, or manchow soup. Sometimes it’s Gujarati kadhi and khichdi.

What makes your recipes click with the audience?

Simple ingredients, simple way of cooking, simple way of narration and we produce it in the best possible quality. It’s the whole package, what we deliver to our audiences which people love. One thing which is always connected is the simplicity and the use of simple ingredients, the use of very less equipment. I always like to do recipes that I like to cook and eat and that honesty and that dedication just shines from the kind of content we make and I am really proud of that.

Any tips to upcoming influencers on monetising content?

To become a successful content creator, you need to find your niche, passion, and calling. Then, it takes hard work, consistency, and dedication. I uploaded content daily for three years, and it paid off. Once you have built an audience and community, you can start earning money and gaining fame. Content creation is about community building, and if you can build a loyal community, nothing can stop you.

What’s your advice to aspiring chefs and content creators?

To aspiring chefs, I say: eat a lot, explore, and travel to experience new foods. Visit good restaurants, read books, watch good content, and apply what you learn. Most importantly, cook every single day—at least 7 times a week. Even if you are in culinary school, come home and cook. It’s crucial to practice consistently to become a good chef.