MasterChef India's Chef Vikas Khanna opens up about the kitchens being physically abusive and facing racism, he says "That Chef took a cleaver while I was chopping something and slashed it on my hand"

Vikas Khanna holds an emotional place for MasterChef India. In a recent podcast, Vikas got candid about the Culinary Industry and the bright and dark side of his struggles. The chef shared he faced racism, physical abuse, and passive aggression in the Initial days. Here's what he had to share:

I had a small business in Amritsar. The government said that it was illegal, they broke everything in front of me. I got very scared that day. The business consisted of banquets, kitty parties and small functions. My mom, dadi and I used to handle this small business and our menu used to barely be from Rs 20 to Rs 100. It was a small but successful business.

That day when they shattered everything in front of me, I was afraid and nervous. I thought this was the end. I still remember I went to the Golden Temple that day and the main door from where I used to enter was closed as they were repairing the tiles that made me feel like today even God closed the door on me. But then my sister, who loves New York, told me that I should take a risk. Maybe this is the chance or this is the hint that I need a bigger platform. Indian cuisine needs a bigger platform.

America is a difficult country to live in. In 2000, I went to America and have only lived in New York and no other cities. In 2000, Indian food was not yet prominent so I had worked a lot under so many chefs. It is tough getting a green card. Then 9/11 happened. Again got disconnected. I was selling food in stalls on the streets as I had to survive in those days.

Racism is natural, they don't know who I am, and they are seeing me there for the first time. It is a part of ignorance and you can't just brush the paint of racism. Some people are so nice but because of those who behave that way makes everyone accountable. Of course, you were scarred but you worked under some great chefs, the greatest chefs in the world from Gordon Ramsay to Eric R to Daniel Boulud to the best chefs in the country. You also train with people who are like 'Isko kisi tarah todna hai'. They want to keep that fear vested in you so that you don't get better than them.

My mom loves it, my grandmother saw the first two episodes of MasterChef and then she passed away. So the show holds a lot of emotional value to me. I honoured that opportunity when I started the show in 2011. When I got the Michelin star, on 4th October and 22nd October MasterChef was released and on November 1st week I lost my grandma. I committed to her and I kept my promise, God helped me to keep her alive to witness that. For me, MasterChef will always remain emotional.

In 2010, Gordon Ramsay called me in New York and said 'I want you to audition for MasterChef America with me.' I went to Hollywood and there were all white chefs and me. I used to look different from all, so all the attention was on me. But then I thought neither my English was good and I would get distracted from my goal so I dropped it.

You need to train well for the Culinary industry, the Industry has both sides. There are many passive-aggressive kitchens. A place with open fires, knives and hot oils. The temperatures are soaring, barkers are barking. I used to work in Agra and I was a trainee, as a chef my job was to put rotis in the tandoor. I was barely 17, and a lady asked for a crispy roti, so I was concentrating on her roti and other rotis in the tandoor got burnt. I was naive and didn't know much. That day a chef hit me with a plate on my head.

The kitchen used to be abusive in which I grew up. Even in the US, I felt a lot of abuse in the kitchen. It was physical abuse. There is a documentary where I shared about it, there was a chef who thought it was funny, he took the cleaver while I was chopping something and slashed it on my hand. I told him that I shall report him to the cops, and he said, "Nobody is going to believe you."

There is a dark side to the culinary world, I recommend it to a lot of young kids who are talented, there are going to be a lot of opportunities and the contract starts with 'Tu toh mera chhota bhai hai, sign kar de', please read the contracts twice, speak to your lawyers before signing it. It is a very hardworking industry but it is so gratifying.

Vikas got candid about how he bagged MasterChef India, I still remember I was staying at the hotel near Mumbai Airport and the channel head and creative had come to my room talking about the show. They realized that I didn't know how to speak well in Hindi. Punjabis usually eat words while speaking and I was not really fluent. There came a point where I was rethinking this decision and I called my mom. She just told me one thing, "I want to see my viku there, this will make people see you on the screens. Do it for all of them." You know, mothers know when to emotionally convince you and speak the right thing at the right time.