Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has been named in TIME 100 2026 list of the world’s most influential people, marking a proud moment for Indian cuisine on the global stage. In an exclusive conversation, the eight-time Michelin-starred culinary player reflects on his journey from the lanes of Amritsar to taking Indian food global.
Excerpts:What did you feel when you heard the news?When I first heard the news, there was silence inside me. Not excitement — just stillness. Because in that moment, I wasn’t standing alone. I was standing with my maa and my dadi. I remembered the narrow lanes of Amritsar, the doubts, the struggles, the moments when I didn’t belong. And I heard my grandmother’s voice — Tatasthu. My mother gave me strength, but my grandmother gave me belief.
Whatever I am today is because they never allowed me to feel small, even when the world tried to.
This recognition is not mine. It belongs to them. It belongs to every child who was told you can’t — and still chose to believe.
What are the three things that define you?I don’t think of influence as power. I think of it as responsibility. If I had to name three things:Authenticity — Never dilute who you are. I carried India with me everywhere.
Resilience — There were more failures than successes, but I stayed.Purpose beyond self — Cooking was never just about food; it became about dignity, culture, and giving back. That’s what defines me, not just as a chef, but as a storyteller of India. From making rotis in Amritsar to Bungalow in New York, what’s common?The kitchens are different. The scale is different. The world is different. But the emotion is exactly the same. Whether I was making a simple roti in Amritsar or plating a dish at Bungalow in New York, I cook with the same prayer: may this bring comfort, may this bring joy.
The only difference is presentation. The soul of the food has never changed.Serving Shah Rukh Khan, celebrities, and the common man — who was toughest?Honestly, the toughest guest is the one who comes with hope. It could be a celebrity, yes. But more often, it’s the common man, someone who has saved money, waited for that one meal, and carries expectations in his eyes. Celebrities come with appreciation. But the common man comes with emotion. And that responsibility is the heaviest, and the most sacred.
