The name of Sanjeev Kapoor is well familiar to many people in India. Assuming that you asked the question, among other people, whom regard him as the most popular cook in India, you will be told, -Whose name is better known than his who cooks?’ “Sanjeev Kapoor” will be the answer given by the majority of them. He is not a chef only. He is a teacher, a businessman, a TV star and a man with a wonderful smile who managed to change the attitude of Indians to food.
Let us learn more about his life, his journey, and how he became a household name in India.
Early Life and Childhood
The hall of fame Sanjeev Kapoor was born on 10th April 1964 in a small town named Ambala in state of Haryana, India. His dad was employed in the Indian government, and his mom was a housewife. When he was a child Sanjeev did not imagine that he would become a chef. He was a normal boy just like other boys. He used to attend school, would play with his peers and he also loved his family time.
However, he had one particular passion which was cooking. What made him interested in cooking is that he would notice his mother and father working in the kitchen. Yes, his dad was also fond of cooking. At home he would experiment with recipes. This made Sanjeev gradually develop an interest in the magic of food.
Education and Training
Sanjeev Kapoor chose the profession of a chef after finishing school. This was not so common at that time. A long time ago in the 1980s few young boys were aspiring to be a chef. The desire of most people was to become doctors, engineers or officers. However, Sanjeev had a dream, he desired to cook food and meet people by bringing happiness to them.
He was enrolled to Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Pusa, New Delhi where he studied the professional cooking. This made a huge stride in his life. He got to learn about Indian food, international food, kitchen work and the management of a hotel kitchen.
Starting His Career
Sanjeev began his career after education at hotels. He practiced in various cities such as Varanasi, New Delhi, and even to be abroad. Gradually, he got to know more about cooking, collaboration, the ability to cope under pressure in the kitchen. It came to the attention of people how hardworking he was as well educated to learn at all times.
Just in very little time he landed himself at the position of an executive chef of a hotel kitchen (which is the highest position in a hotel kitchen.) He had worked in Centaur Hotel located in Mumbai when he demonstrated his talent.
The Big Break – Khana Khazana
It was when Sanjeev Kapoor went out there on the television when he began a cooking challenge known as Khana Khazana. The serial premiered in the year 1993 on Zee TV. Back then not much cooking show existed in India. Sanjeev Kapoor was smiling in front of the camera and was preparing Indian simple food, step by step.
People adored it! Men, women, children,–all people enjoyed watching him. His recipes were copied in notebooks by housewives. Little girls and boys attempted his food dishes. He has a soft voice and a simple addition of explanation to it made cooking and its process look simple.
Khana Khazana became one of the historic cooking shows in Asia. It lasted longer than 17 years, having been broadcasted in more than 120 countries.
Author of Many Books
Sanjeev Kapoor did not stop at TV. He also became a writer. He wrote more than 150 cookbooks in English, Hindi, and other languages. His books cover Indian food, Chinese food, vegetarian dishes, desserts, healthy meals, and much more.
His books are loved by people because the recipes are easy to follow, and they work! You don’t need to be a master chef to try them. He made sure that even a beginner can cook with confidence.
Sanjeev Kapoor’s Food Channel
In 2011, Sanjeev Kapoor started India’s first food channel called “FoodFood.” This was a new idea – a full-time TV channel only for cooking and food-related shows. He was not just the face of the channel but also a part-owner.
Through FoodFood, he gave chances to many new chefs and food lovers. The channel helped in spreading food knowledge to every corner of the country.
Businessman and Entrepreneur
Sanjeev Kapoor is not just a chef. He is also a successful businessman. He started many restaurants in India and other countries. Some of his popular restaurant names are:
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The Yellow Chilli
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Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor
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Sura Vie
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Khazana
These restaurants offer delicious Indian food with a modern touch. People from different countries come and enjoy his recipes.
He also launched ready-to-eat food items, kitchen tools, and products like spice mixes, pickles, and cookware under his brand name.
Awards and Honours
Sanjeev Kapoor received many awards for his work in food and cooking. Some of the big ones are:
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Padma Shri – One of India’s top civilian awards, given by the Government of India in 2017.
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Named “Best Chef of India” by several magazines and food groups.
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He was a part of many world food festivals and represented India proudly.
He also spoke at the World Economic Forum, which shows how respected he is – not just in the kitchen, but in the world of ideas and leadership.
Personal Life
Sanjeev Kapoor is a father of a family. He has gotten married to Alyona Kapoor who is also his business partner. Their family consists of two daughters. He never ends saying that family support is extremely important in life.
He is also known for being humble, kind, and always smiling. Despite his fame, he stays simple and down to earth.
Why People Love Him
Sanjeev Kapoor is loved by the people since he is not just a mere chef. He is an educator who allowed cooking to be simple and enjoyable. He demonstrated that a home with a small kitchen could be magical too. He was respectful of the Indian traditions but he was open to other influences.
He made millions of people understand that cooking is not a female activity. Even men can cook and unlike some females, men love to cook. He shattered numerous old ideas and provided new style of food and kitchen.
Conclusion
Sanjeev kapoor, a name that will never be forgotten in the history of the Indian foods. His story to be known as the world-famous chef is a path of hard work, honesty, and love to food, started as a small town boy. He transformed cooking into a form of art, play and a vocation to put on its feet.
He found his way to the hearts of millions through his shows, books, restaurants and his kind manner. He is indeed “Master Chef” of India – a human being who did not create only delicacies, but artistic memories.
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