‘A boy could be humiliated for cooking’: MasterChef's Vikas Khanna recalls childhood struggles as he turns 55

Vikas Khanna is a celebrity chef, restaurateur and a cookbook writer, who has also been one of the judges on MasterChef India. He was a young boy from Amritsar, who dreamed of cooking, so he pursued a degree in hotel management and became one of the renowned Indian chef, not just in India, but also in the USA, where he has his own restaurant Bungalow in New York City. As he celebrated his 55th birthday, he recalled his journey, especially his childhood, where his ambition was ridiculed. But he remains grateful at how far he has come in life.

Vikas Khanna recalls being ridiculed for wanting to become a chef

Sharing a video on Instagram, Vikas spoke about how difficult it was for a young boy in Amritsar to express an interest in cooking. "In the Amritsar of my childhood, in the ’80s and ’90s, a boy could be humiliated for cooking. Saying I wanted to become a chef invited even more ridicule," he wrote. He has reflected on the barriers and shared how he has been the "first to break so many glass ceilings globally". "I’m proud of the ground my journey has broken, and I hope it makes it a little easier for another boy or an immigrant to say out loud what they want to become and Dream Big," he added.

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Vikas Khanna shares how he celebrated his 55th birthday

On his birthday, the chef also expressed his gratitude for his parents, Bindu and Devinder Khanna, his upbringing in Amritsar and the life he has built in New York City. "Today I turn 55. I was blessed to be born to Bindu and Devinder Khanna, to be raised in Amritsar, and to make a life in New York City," he wrote.


The chef also spoke about how food and culture allow him to bring India and America closer. He revealed that he planned to celebrate his birthday at his New York restaurant, Bungalow, where he would arrive at 4:45 p.m. to sprinkle Ganga Jal and welcome the first guests, a daily ritual for him. "What a blessing it is to come home exhausted from the very work I once sat at home dreaming about," he shared.

Netizens react

A user wrote, "Happy Birthday, Chef Vikas! You’ve inspired me not just through your cooking, but through your kindness, humility, and passion. Thank you for bringing so much warmth and joy to people’s lives. Wishing you health, happiness, and endless success always." Another commented, "Happy birthday. May your light continue to brighten your world just like it does for everyone who crosses your path!" One added, "Umar pachpan ki dil bachpan ka (The age is 55, but the heart should be of a child). Always keep that inner child alive in you .. it’s that innocence and the purity of your soul that makes you who you are!! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays! Stay blessed."