For us, cooking is like therapy: MasterChef winners Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe

Nagpur-based brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe have emerged as the winners of the latest season of MasterChef India, judged by chefs Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur and Ranveer Brar. The duo, who run a café in Nagpur, describe the victory as the fulfilment of a long-held dream. “It was a dream from a long time ago that someday we would participate in MasterChef. We used to watch the show together and always felt that one day we should try it,” Ajinkya said to Mumbai Mirror.

The opportunity finally came when the current season introduced a format allowing pairs to compete. Vikram said, “In Mumbai, we got the apron but were kept on standby because there were some mistakes in the dish. Later, they gave us a chance from there, and that chance changed our lives.”

“Once we got the opportunity, we knew we had to prove why we were there. We like challenges and usually take risks in our cooking. The journey changed us as cooks and as people,” Ajinkya added. Working with the three judges also became a learning experience. Vikram said, “From Chef Ranveer, there was so much to learn about the history of ingredients. From Chef Vikas, we learned innovation, and Chef Kunal taught us how to keep the tradition of food alive.”

Ajinkya added, “I have been following Chef Vikas Khanna’s innovation for a long time. The dishes he serves are close to Indian food, but he takes them to a global level and presents simple ingredients in a beautiful way. We want to do that.”

Cooking, the brothers said, has always been something they deeply enjoy. “For us, cooking is like therapy. Even on bad days, we cook, and we genuinely enjoy feeding people,” The win, they believe, will help them take their café and their ideas further. “Earlier we were just Vikram and Ajinkya. Now we have the MasterChef tag, which gives us a platform and makes it easier for people to accept what we want to present. The learnings from the show will definitely reflect in our café,” Vikram said.

The judges also left them with advice that continues to guide them. “One thing we were told was to never stop learning,” Ajinkya said. For the brothers, the victory also carries pride for their hometown. “There has never been a winner or participant from Nagpur before, and in fact, there has never been a winner from Maharashtra. It is our responsibility to represent Nagpur and Maharashtra well,” he said, adding, “If someone gets inspired through us, that will be the best thing,” said Vikram.