Sanjeev Kapoor on Farah Khan's food content: It's entertaining!

A biopic on celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor may still be in the works, but the culinary icon believes the story has the potential to resonate with audiences because it mirrors the transformation of an entire profession. Speaking to us at The Great Culinary Cook-Off hosted by Wonderchef and Freshpik, where home chefs competed with millet-based dishes judged by Kapoor, the chef reflected on reports of a film being developed on his life.

"A biopic on my life is something many people have shown interest in; it is not something I initiated. So there must be something in the story that appeals to people," he said.For Kapoor, the most compelling aspect is what he calls the "revolution" of the chef's profession in India. "If I had to choose one word, it would be revolution — going from a time when chefs did not receive any respect to a chef receiving the Padma Shri. There is a great deal there that is genuinely exciting."



The chef also looked back at how dramatically the culinary landscape has evolved since he entered the profession. "When I started, it was still a profession people didn't really talk about. It was unglamorous, not particularly well-paying and opportunities were limited. Today there are far more opportunities, but success is never easy. More opportunities only make it easier to begin."

With social media creating a new generation of food influencers and home cooks, Kapoor sees the shift as a positive one. "People are more interested in food than ever. They want to understand how it is made, how healthy it is and whether it is good for them. Food touches our lives every single day, so the democratization of food content can only be a good thing," he said.

According to Kapoor, expertise is no longer confined to professional kitchens. "Expertise takes many forms. It is not limited to a chef working in a hotel or restaurant. Sometimes expertise simply brings satisfaction, and that satisfaction has its own value."

Kapoor also weighed in on the growing popularity of food-based entertainment, from celebrity cooking shows to viral YouTube channels. "I have always maintained that India has three religions of entertainment — Bollywood, cricket and food. These are our three biggest forms of entertainment, and for years I spoke about this in my live shows. That belief eventually led me to launch my television channel, Food Food, where we produced shows like Filmy Dabba Party and many others that went well beyond recipes. These things take time, but I’m glad we have reached a point where food content can be so much more than a recipe," he said.

Asked about filmmaker Farah Khan Kunder's hugely popular cooking content, Kapoor revealed that he was among her earliest guests. "Of course I have watched Farah Khan’s show. In fact, I was one of her first guests. I have long known her and her gift for creating entertaining content, whatever the theme, and it comes from a deep understanding of Indian audiences. Today she is doing it with food, with travel, with interiors. Anyone who truly understands what viewers enjoy can build a show around almost any subject, and it will work."



As for the much-talked-about biopic, Kapoor believes the story is larger than one individual. "Biopics work when there is a human story and a sense of inspiration. There are many angles to explore. For now, we will simply wait and watch."