From being bullied for making rotis to watching his mother clean gutters; When MasterChef India judge Vikas Khanna spoke about his early struggles

Michelin-starred chef, Vikas Khanna, who is currently seen as one of the judges on MasterChef India is a true example of resilience, faith, and persistent passion. In a throwback podcast interview with The Grain Talk Show, Vikas opened up about his early struggles, being bullied in school, witnessing his mother do the toughest chores and more. (Photo: Instagram)

I felt completely numb, and it was peak wedding season at that time. But that day, I felt completely shattered. There were no mobile phones back then, nothing at all. Papa came very late that day, and everything around us had been destroyed. I asked him, ‘Do you think this is my fault?’ A day earlier, I had told someone that I couldn’t serve food until it was properly served to my guests. This was in the early 2000s, things were very different then. Government officials and police officers would just come and sit there. (Photo: Instagram)

I kept thinking maybe it all happened because of me. I felt deeply guilty, as if I was responsible for everything that went wrong. But Papa told me, ‘No, this is not your fault.’ His words gave me some comfort. Still, inside, I carried the burden and blamed myself for my own failure. (Photo: Instagram)

I felt that everything, the alcohol, the chicken was kept separately just for them. It seemed like if you made even a small mistake, nothing would go right. Later in life, I understood that sometimes things have to break for something new to grow, just like a seed needs to split before it becomes a plant. But at that time, it felt like the end of everything. I truly believed my life was over and that I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything after that. (Photo: Instagram)

It was a different time. I was very mischievous back then and didn’t expect much from anyone. We were all part of the same family, but usually people don’t worry much about the child who is doing well. They assume the top-performing kid will eventually settle down on their own, that was my elder brother. My sister and I were at the bottom academically. But I told myself it didn’t matter. If I was making a choice and felt strongly about it, that should be respected. (Photo: Instagram)

My grandmother supported me the most. She would say, “As long as he’s happy, that’s what matters. Why are we forcing him to become an engineer?” She believed I wouldn’t succeed in it anyway because I had no interest in that field. Around that time, Lawrence Garden had just opened. (Photo: Instagram)

Lawrence Garden wasn’t doing very well in the beginning. There was maybe one kitty party in a week. But there was so much passion and dedication behind it. I still remember how excited I would feel when mom said, “A kitty party is booked, six ladies are coming.” I would be over the moon. Just being there, serving them, and feeling involved meant everything to me. It was typical 1990s Amritsar, kitty parties were the main source of business. Small gatherings, retirement parties, that’s how it started. None of us knew back then that it would become a training ground for life. (Photo: Instagram)

Watching my mother work changed me completely. She worked tirelessly every single day, going to the market to buy vegetables herself. One memory still stays with me — even late at night, she would be cleaning the gutter with sticks. It’s something I wish I could erase, but I can’t. She taught me the dignity of labour. She showed me that if you want to shine like the sun, you must be ready to burn like it. Everything I do even today — at 53 — comes from what she taught me about hard work and running a business. (Photo: Instagram)

I was a small kid when it began and I used to get brutally bullied in school. The kids would say, 'yeh ghar jaake rotiyan banayega.' I still had enough conviction that despite all of it I wanted to continue with my passion. I never imagined I would come this far. (Photo: Instagram)

I remember when Gordon Ramsay invited me to the show, Radhika was sitting with me and she knew I was extremely nervous about speaking in English for the whole episode. I had to learn a lot to be in front of people and speak. When I came to India I was asked to learn to speak in proper Hindi as I had a heavy Punjabi influence. So I learnt it as I wanted to show that even Chefs are on a higher pedestal in the Industry as others. (Photo: Instagram)