Sanjeev Kapoor reveals the surprising 'Re 1 more factor' behind his MasterChef India exit

In a recent interview, celebrated chef Sanjeev Kapoor shared an intriguing story about why he was initially dropped from judging the first season of MasterChef India in 2010. The show, which was adapted for the Indian audience, originally featured Bollywood star Akshay Kumar as one of its judges. Kapoor, who was also approached to join the panel, revealed that his demand for a fee just one rupee higher than Akshay Kumar's led to his exclusion from the inaugural season.

Why Sanjeev Kapoor Was Dropped

Kapoor, known for revolutionizing Indian cooking shows with his long-running program Khana Khazana, explained that when the showrunners of MasterChef India approached him, they informed him that Akshay Kumar had already been signed as a judge. Despite being a close friend of Akshay and acknowledging his professionalism, Kapoor felt that as a chef, he should be compensated slightly more than the Bollywood actor. "This is my field," Kapoor reasoned, during his conversation with host Siddharth Kannan.

The chef's demand to be paid Re 1 more than Akshay Kumar left the show's producers shocked. As a result, they decided not to sign Kapoor for the first season. Akshay Kumar went on to judge the first two seasons alongside chefs Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra.

Sanjeev Kapoor's MasterChef Return

However, the story didn’t end there. After Akshay's departure from the show, the producers returned to Kapoor, offering him a spot on the judging panel for the third season. This time, Kapoor signed on his terms, marking his debut on the show in season three. Despite his initial demands, Kapoor later reflected that the time and effort he invested in the show did not match the returns, leading to his eventual exit after a few seasons.

Since then, MasterChef India has seen a variety of chefs step in as judges, with Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar becoming long-standing figures on the show. Kapoor’s brief stint, however, remains a memorable chapter in the history of the show, as it highlights the balance between self-worth and professional negotiations.

Akshay Kumar’s Role on MasterChef India

Akshay Kumar, who hosted the first season of MasterChef India, had a unique background for the role, having worked as a waiter and chef in Bangkok before rising to stardom in Bollywood. However, after just one season, Kumar had to step down due to scheduling conflicts with his film projects.

Kapoor eventually replaced Akshay Kumar in the third season, but by then, the dynamics of the show had evolved, with other chefs making their mark on the Indian adaptation of the globally popular cooking competition.