Vikas Khanna (born 14 November 1971) is an Indian chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, filmmaker and humanitarian. He is one of the judges of MasterChef India since its beginning . He is based in New York City.

Early life and education

Khanna was born in Amritsar, India in a Punjabi family. He did his schooling at St. Francis School, Amritsar. 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. He then studied at Culinary Institute of America and New York University. Vikas Khanna also received an honorary doctorate at GD Goenka 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 six consecutive years since 2011.

He has also worked with top chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Eric Ripert, Bobby Flay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

In 2019, he opened a restaurant called Kinara in Dubai. In 2020, he opened a restaurant called Ellora in Dubai.

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.

He has hosted four seasons of the show Twist of Taste on Fox Life.

Khanna was featured 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.

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.

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 was released at the 71st Cannes Film Festival.

Philanthropy

Khanna launched the foundation "South Asian Kid's Infinite Vision" (SAKIV) 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 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.

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 global pandemic, he started a "Feed India" initiative which is backed by Pepsi, India Gate, Quaker Oats, Hyatt Regency and Global Funds for Widows and delivers food and supplies to those in need in India.

Awards and recognitions

• Top 10 Chefs in the world by Deutsche Welle News and Gazette Review.
• Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) Degree by the G D Goenka University.
• Doctorate in literature (Honoris causa) by D Y Patil University.
• James Beard Foundation Award nomination for his book Return to the Rivers in 2014.
• "Rising Star" Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine(2011).
• GQ India Man of the year 2012 by GQ Magazine.
• Featured in the list of Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine in November 2011.
• "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH.
• The Shining Star Award from “Just One Break, Inc.”
• Proclamation from the New York City Council for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen "New Yorker of the Week" by NY1.
• Featured on the cover of Men's Health India Magazine in 2012.
• He was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by the New York Eater blog.
• Chef Vikas Khanna Launches World's First Phygital Cookbook NFT with Akshaya.io blog