Bollywood’s craving for Kanpur food

With the reputation of Kanpur food travelling far and wide, it’s no surprise that the celebs don’t miss out on savouring the various delights the city has to offer. Whether it is Ayuhsmann Khurrana, who shot in Kanpur for the film 'Article 15', or his brother Aparshakti, the two brothers feasted on Anil’s famous mutton curry, or director Anubhav Sinha, who tried food at several joints across the city.On the 16th anniversary issue of Kanpur Times, we give you a sneak peek into the Bollywood angle of Kanpuriya food and what the actors and actresses visiting the city feasted on.
Aparshakti Khurana came all the way from Lucknow to have Anil’s famous mutton curry (BCCL)
Chef Narendra Yadav of hotel Landmark, says, "Most of the celebrities coming to Kanpur for film shoots stay at our hotel. And since I am the person in-charge for readying their meals, I had to know each one’s personal choice. Recently, Ayushmann Khurrana, while shooting for film 'Bala', was staying at our hotel. Though he is very particular about his diet, he believes in an elaborate menu. From homemade style chicken and mutton gravy to tandoori white chicken to lauki ka halwa to bajre ki roti, he used to try everything that is healthy, tasteful and satisfying."
Parmesan cheese glazed prawns were favoured by Ayushmann Khurrana, says Chef Mohit Yadav (BCCL)
"Ayushmann Khurrana, Aparshakti Khurana and Harshita Gaur all of them visited my restaurant to have food at our restaurant,” informs Chef Mohit Yadav of Dhuaan. "The Apple feta salad, white parmesan cheese glazed cottage cheese and mutton rogan josh were favourites of Ayushmann whereas Cottage cheese espatada, triple mushroom risotto and three pepper cheese cigar were the regular orders for Aparshakti and Harshita," says Yadav.
Cilantro Harissa Short Glass Cottage Cheese by chef Narendra Yadav was loved by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (BCCL)
Deepak Savita, owner of SD Chaat and fast food at Naveen market, was pleasantly surprised when Harshita Gaur visited her eatery while shooting in the city. "Kanpur has always been famous for its chaat. Even the film actors cannot resist themselves when it comes to trying the chatpati chaat of the city. Harsita came especially to have paani-puri. She tried the chatpata green paani and hing wala paani and love it," says Savita.
Lahori Tadka Kukkad prepared by chef Narendra Yadav (BCCL)
But it is the mutton curry prepared by Anil meat wala which had Aparshakti travel all the way from Lucknow to have it, that’s made Kanpur famous among Bollywood wallahas. Vinod Oberoi, owner of Anil meat wala, Swaroop Nagar, says, "Actor Divyendu Sharma was very fond of our mutton curry. During the shoot of film Kanpur he and his assistant used to regularly order for the mutton curry which is prepared by us," he says.
The pasta prepared by chef Mohit Yadav was also the stars’ favourite snack (BCCL)
Kanpur’s food might be much in demand among the actors coming for the film shoots but no actor can forget to take away a bag full of very famous Thaggu Ke Laddu. A salesman at the Thaggu Ke Laddu, says, "Hamare yahan ke laddu toh poori Bollywood mein famous hai. Jab bhi koi actor film shoot ke liye Kanpur aata hai toh hamare laddu zaroor khata hai."