By Hemant SharmaChefs are professionals who have mastered the art of food preparation and specialise in one or more types of cuisine. Indian cuisine, with its diverse varieties and tastes, is famous all over the world, and celebrity chefs have played a major role in it. Top Indian chefs have introduced traditional Indian recipes to the world and also invented their own specialty cuisines. They are the driving force behind a culinary revolution which has put cooking as a lucrative profession. Their recipes and cooking styles are followed by millions of aspiring chefs, housewives and cooking enthusiasts all over the world. Indian culinary maestros have redefined Indian cooking through their exceptional culinary skills. Let’s have a look at the top 10 most renowned chefs in India for 2025.
1. Sanjeev Kapoor
Sanjeev Kapoor is the most prominent and iconic personality in the Indian culinary landscape. He first shot to fame for hosting a highly popular food show named Khana Khazana which ran for 17 years and brought the nuances of top-notch cooking to households in India and abroad. Kapoor has developed his own curated recipes across cuisines, right from Indian to Continental.
Sanjeev Kapoor owns a 24/7 food and lifestyle channel named Food Food. He owns a chain of restaurants across India by the name of Yellow Chilli, and has penned over 150 cookbooks. Kapoor was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2017.
2. Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is a Michelin Star celebrity chef and also a restaurateur and film maker. He graduated in hotel management from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, before moving to USA to study at the Culinary Institute of America. Khanna worked in a number of high-end hotels in India and USA prior to opening his own restaurant in Dubai named Kinara. He followed it up with two more restaurants, Ellora in Dubai and Bungalow in New York City.
Vikas Khanna has authored more than 25 books, and one of his books named Utsav is the most expensive cookbook in the world. He has hosted seven seasons of the cooking reality show, MasterChef India. His documentary, Kitchens of Gratitude, was screened at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.
3. Ranveer Brar
Ranveer Brar is a celebrity chef, television personality, restaurateur and author. He began his career as a chef with the Taj Hotel in Delhi, and became the youngest executive chef in India when he was appointed to this position at the Raddison Blue Hotel in Noida. Brar opened a Franco-Asian restaurant in Boston which won several awards. Presently, he is the Senior Executive Chef at Novotel, Juhu Beach.
Ranveer Brar has hosted multiple cookery television shows, such as The Great Indian Rasoi, Ranveer’s Cafe, MasterChef India and others. He has authored two books, namely Come Into My Kitchen and Traditional Twist.
4. Atul Kochhar
Atul Kochhar is a celebrity chef and television personality who has two Michelin Stars to his credit and is one of first two Indian chefs to be awarded a Michelin Star. He began his career as a chef in the Oberoi Group of Hotels. He owns a number of restaurants in Britain, namely Kanishka, Hawkyns, Indian Essence, Sindhu, Vaasu, Masalchi and Riwaz.
Atul Kochhar has appeared in multiple television series, such as Kochhar’s Spice Kitchen and Curry On With Atul Kochhar. He has authored several cookbook, such as Simple Indian, Curry Everyday, Fish and more.
5. Harpal Singh Sokhi
Harpal Singh Sokhi is a celebrity chef and restauteur who started his career at The Oberoi Hotel in Bhubaneswar, becoming an executive chef at the young age of 27. Thereafter, he went to work in a number of upscale restaurants and hotels, such as Centaur Hotel, Taj Lands End, The Regent and more. Sokhi also curated the business class menu for Singapore Airlines for seven years.
Harpal Singh Sokhi owns several restaurants, including Karigari, The Treasury and Twist of Tadka. He gained popularity for his cookery show, Turban Tadka, which aired on Food Food channel.
6. Manish Mehrotra
Manish Mehrotra is a celebrity chef who is redefining fine Indian dining. He is known for his signature style of blending traditional Indian flavours with Asian and Western ingredients and cooking techniques. Some of his innovative dishes are Meetha Achar Ribs and Daulat Ki Chaat.
Manish Mehrotra is currently working as the Culinary Director of Indian Accent Restaurants in Delhi, Mumbai and New York, and Cormorin in Gurgaon. He is the author of Indian Accent Restaurant Cookbook.
7. Ritu Dalmia
Ritu Dalmia is a celebrity and restauteur who is known for creating innovative dishes blending Indian and Italian ingredients. She is the co-owner and chef of the highly popular Italian restaurant in Delhi, Diva. Her other restaurants are Cafe Diva and Latitude 28.
Ritu Dalmia hosted three seasons of a television show, Italian Khana, on NDTV Good Times. She was awarded the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity by the Italian government in 2011.
8. Saransh Goila
Saransh Goila is a celebrity chef who is popularly known as ‘God of Butter Chicken’ for his popular signature version of this Indian delicacy. He specialises in regional Indian cooking and owns a chain of restaurants by the name of Goila Butter Chicken located across India.
Saransh Goila has hosted television shows like Roti Rasta Aur India and Healthy Fridge on Food Food channel. He has authored a food travelogue named India on my Platter.
9. Garima Arora
Garima Arora is the first Indian female chef to receive a Michelin Star. She is known for blending Indian culinary styles with Thai ingredients. Arora owns a fine Indian dining restaurant in the heart of Bangkok, named Gaa. She was named Asia’s Best Female Chef by a UK media company in the year 2019.
10. Kunal Kapur
Kunal Kapur is a celebrity chef who is known for his expertise in Indian cuisine. He owns a restaurant named Quarter Plate located in Noida and is also the executive sous chef at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon. Kapur famously cooked for 42 first ladies at the India Africa Summit. He has judged and hosted four seasons of MasterChef India.
Conclusion
Top Indian chefs have not only earned fame for themselves but also made Indian cuisine a part of international gastronomical delicacies. Their creativity, talent and passion for cooking is an inspiration for budding chefs looking to make it big in this field.