What’s cooking at the nearest film set

Eeating remains an elaborate exercise on the sets, even for the fussy stars - whether it is caterers serving meals on the sets or in their vanity vans, or personal chefs rustling up favourite dishes. We spoke to some of the busiest people in the business to get a taste of what’s cooking on the sets.
Aishwarya's Kori Rotti
One of the most popular caterers in the industry, Jhama Foods, was founded by Shivanna Shetty, who ran away from his home in Mangalore at the age of seven.After menial jobs in Mumbai, he set up his canteen at Natraj Studio and catered to producers like Pramod Chakravarthy, Ramanand Sagar, Shakti Samantha, FC Mehra, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Boney Kapoor and N Chandra. Eventually, he started taking full-fledged catering orders on various film sets and now runs his business with his son Purshottam.
Jhama's specialty: Manglorean food.
Aishwarya Rai’s mother had got them to cater to their guests for ten days at the time of her daughter’s wedding. “We served typical Manglorean dishes like Kori rotti as most of the guests were from Mangalore,” recalls Purushottam. During the making of Tezaab, Purushottam’s mother prepared a Manglorean fish curry for Madhuri Dixit, and for Sridevi during Mr India.
On location abroad for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Amitabh Bachchan’s assistant requested them to make simple vegetarian food like Bhindi, Rajma and Dahi Kadhi for the actor. Currently, Jhama is catering to Ram Leela, Yeh Jawaani..., Unglee, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein and Ramaiya Vastavaiya.
Missing the old spice
Lakhan Caterers has been feeding the film industry for 35 years. From modest beginnings as a cook in Navin Nischol and Dharmendra’s house, Lakhan Lal Yadav, graduated to a full-fledged catering service. Son Rohit joined him three years ago and today, they cater to nearly six to seven films at a time.
The Lakhans’ one gripe? Earlier, producers insisted on spicy food but today, stars are dietconscious, meals are bland. Lakhan Sr fondly remembers how Shyam Benegal planned the menu with the caterers, and sampled it with everyone else. “Earlier, stars and filmmakers sat with the rest of the crew to eat. Now, they prefer eating in their vanity vans,” he shrugs.
The Lakhans are catering to Yamla Pagla Deewana in Delhi, Besharam and Chennai Express in Wai. Lakhan Jr points to a new trend: “Rohit has hired a personal chef Ramu, who cooked meals for Ajay Devgn during Bol Bachchan and now cooks for Shah Rukh Khan and him at Wai. It's a very Hollywood thing,” he says.
Pecking order
Also known as Jai Mata Di Food Supplies, Shyam Caterers was founded by Shyamlal Sharma back in 1969. Shatrughan Sinha gave Shyamlal his first big break as caterer during the filming of Sangram.
Like the Lakhans, Shyamlal rues the new hierarchy in the trade. “We now serve food in three categories: A plus (producer, director, stars), A, and B (bottom rung of the crew). Besides, producers now expect us to have live tandoor and pasta counters as part of the buffet spread,” he says.
Shyamlal counts Yash Raj Films, Rakesh Roshan, Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan among his best clients. He admires YRF for the kind of attention they pay to what they feed their crew while Rakesh, he says, is one of those rare filmmakers, who is totally non fussy. “Rakesh-ji never asks for the food to be delivered to an AC van or room. He picks up the plate himself, and sits in a corner and eats with the rest of the crew,” says he.
Shyamlal is in awe of Akshay’s discipline and Aamir's humility, saying: “Aamir eats whatever is offered to him, and with the rest of the crew.”
Stars on their plate
Amitabh Bachchan - Bhindi sabzi and Moong ki daal
Salman Khan
Chicken tandoori, fish, rajma chawal and biryani
Shah Rukh Khan
Steam fish most of the time. It’s very little oil or spices for him
Aamir Khan
No special preference but Chicken tandoori is his favourite
Akshay Kumar
Anything vegetarian
Ranbir Kapoor
Perhaps the only actor who still relishes a heavy mutton dish, while his contemporaries have ditched mutton for healthier options
John Abraham, Madhuri Dixit and Deepika Padukone
They could pass off as 'Fishetarians', considering they want fish with every meal
Abhishek Bachchan
Loves his rajma chawal
Sunny Deol
Loves Lauki, which no one else seems to like. He prefers basic vegetarian food
Sanjay Dutt
Dal and Chicken tikka
Arbaaz and Sohail Khan
They insist Paaya be part of what is served on the sets