Long before YouTube tutorials and Instagram recipe reels took over, there was one man who ruled the Indian kitchen. This writer remembers her mother ardently waiting for every episode of Khana Khazana to scribble down ingredients and the right method to recreate every dish that came from Sanjeev Kapoor’s kitchen. Decades later, the chef, restaurateur, and television personality remains one of the country’s most recognisable culinary voices. Having recently joined JioHotstar’s MasterChef Australia as a guest judge, Kapoor tells mid-day what sets the OG franchise apart, why expertise matters, and why recognition sometimes trumps merit.

Excerpts from the interview.