Who are Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe? Nagpur brothers win MasterChef India 2026

After weeks of hard work and passion in the kitchen, MasterChef India 2026 finally found its winners in Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe from Nagpur, popularly known as the Gandhe brothers. The duo became the first pair to win the competition due to this year’s special theme. The Nagpur brothers impressed the judges with their creative desserts, strong teamwork, and passion for cooking, and finally won the trophy along with Rs 25 lakh.

Ever since, Vikram and Ajinkya lifted the trophy, curiosity around them has increased amongst fans of the show, who want to know every little detail about the duo.

Vikram and Ajunkya Gandhe, famous as the Gandhe brothers, come from Nagpur, Maharashtra. Today they are known for their cooking skills, but their journey into the kitchen was not the usual one. The brothers started their careers in other professions before realising their real passion for cooking.

Vikram Gandhe began his journey in the food industry at a young age. At 19, he opened a small canteen and started cooking professionally.

Ajinkya Gandhe, who studied architecture, followed his passion for food and moved to Goa. He soon came up with a business and started a cafe. Later, his elder brother Vikram Gandhe joined him because he also wanted to open a restaurant together. The brothers together worked as a team and created a special dining experience for their customers.

Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe set up Place Bakehouse as their food venture after making their presence felt on MasterChef India 2026. The café offers freshly baked items and specially prepared dishes that highlight the creativity and flavors of the Gandhe brothers’ cooking.

The Gandhe brothers did not miss a single opportunity to impress the judges with their cooking skills. They continued to perform extraordinary throughout their entire 45 episodes journey of MasterChef India 2026. Furthermore, the two became the first finalists and were also likely the only team to receive the highest number of spoon taps this season. The highlight of their journey was their dessert creations. The winning duo received the Golden Chef Coat along with a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. Sai Sri and Chandana became the first runner-ups and won Rs 15 lakh.

The season introduced a unique format, starting with 50 pairs from across the country, each bringing their unique bond and culinary heritage to the MasterChef kitchen.