Did You Know Akshay Kumar was replaced in Masterchef after Sanjeev Kapoor demanded Rs 1 more than him? Chef says, ‘Signed show on my terms’

As a seasoned observer of the culinary world and the Indian television landscape, I find Sanjeev Kapoor‘s journey with Masterchef India nothing short of captivating. His story is a testament to his unyielding passion for cooking, his undeniable expertise, and his knack for negotiating business deals with a sense of humor that only he can pull off.

Sanjeev Kapoor served as judge in just two seasons of Masterchef India, yet he dominated the Indian television culinary world as if he were the sole figure in the industry. Interestingly, Kapoor shares that he was initially considered for the cooking show but was dropped due to Akshay Kumar’s involvement. Later on, he had the opportunity to replace Kumar on the program, as shared in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan.

In the past, Khiladi Kumar and another individual were the judges for two seasons of a particular show, with Sanjeev being approached as a potential co-judge as well. When they got involved with MasterChef, they had previously worked on another project and could see where that path was leading. The chef mentioned this while sharing that when he began discussions with the creators of the new show, he was informed that one judge had already been secured for the position.

Sanjeev claimed that at that time, he was considered the greatest Chef, even among the top 100, a fact confirmed to him. As a result, they decided to bring in actor Akshay Kumar. Sanjeev spoke highly of Akshay, saying, “He’s a dear friend, exceptionally bright individual, and a true professional.” When the producers suggested involving him alongside Akshay, he responded positively, expressing his happiness. However, he had one condition: no matter what they were paying Akshay, he would ask for just one penny more in compensation.

After this incident, they were completely taken aback, and Sanjeev explained, “This is what I specialize in.” In that particular season, the producers didn’t bring him aboard but invited him back for season 3. As Kapoor disclosed, “They chose to substitute Akshay Kumar. I joined the show under my own conditions.” However, the previous financial agreement couldn’t be applied since Akshay was no longer part of the show.

As a devoted follower, I took on the role and delivered several seasons, yet the time and energy required didn’t align proportionately with the reward, so I decided it was time to move on. – Kapoor

In one season, the renowned figure served as co-host for Masterchef India alongside Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra. Later, Akshay was succeeded by Vikas Khanna until Sanjeev Kapoor took over from Ajay Chopra in the third season. Now, after eight completed seasons, MasterChef India continues with various chefs joining and leaving, but Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar have remained a constant presence on the show.

2024-08-20 06:22

Read More