Sanjeev Kapoor Opens Up on Rejecting MasterChef India Over Pay Respect and Self-Worth

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor has revealed a surprising story from the early days of MasterChef India, saying he initially turned down the show because the makers did not agree to pay him more than Akshay Kumar, even if the difference was just ₹1. Kapoor, who became a household name through his iconic cooking show Khana Khazana, said he was approached for the first season of MasterChef India when Akshay Kumar was also part of the show, but he felt that a cooking-based reality programme needed to value culinary expertise as much as star power. For Kapoor, the issue was not only about money, but about professional respect and the recognition of chefs in Indian television. He believed that if the show was built around food, then a chef with decades of experience and public trust deserved to be placed at the centre of it. When the makers did not accept his condition, he chose to walk away from the offer instead of compromising on what he saw as his worth. Kapoor later joined MasterChef India in its third season, after the show’s team returned to him and the circumstances had changed. His revelation has now sparked discussion online about pay parity, celebrity culture and how experts are often valued in entertainment industries compared to actors and mainstream stars. The story also highlights Kapoor’s role in shaping India’s food television space, where he helped bring cooking out of restaurant kitchens and into everyday homes. While Akshay Kumar brought star appeal to the first season, Kapoor’s stand has now become a larger conversation about self-respect, expertise and the importance of knowing one’s value in any profession.