Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, now synonymous with MasterChef India , has revealed that he wasn't always on board with the idea. In fact, he turned down the show's makers several times before finally agreeing to step into the judge's chair, and the reason behind his initial refusal had nothing to do with the format itself, but everything to do with how chefs were valued on Indian television.
"Pay Me More Than Akshay Kumar," Sanjeev Kapoor Told Makers
Speaking with veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi on his podcast, Sanjeev Kapoor opened up about his early conversations with the MasterChef India team. According to the chef, when the show was first pitched to him, he wasn't interested — and said no, repeatedly.
His issue wasn't about sharing screen space with film stars. It was about respect for professional expertise. As Kapoor put it, "I refused the show many times. I said, 'If you want me, you have to pay me more than Akshay Kumar."
"Why Should an Actor Be Paid More Than Me?"
For Sanjeev Kapoor, the demand wasn't about competing with Bollywood — it was about parity within his own domain. He argued that if the show was built around cooking, then the person with decades of culinary credibility should be valued at least as much as, if not more than, a celebrity from an entirely different field.
His logic was simple: "This is my field. If an actor comes into my field, why should he be paid more than me?"
He clarified that this wasn't a comparison of who's more famous or talented — it was about recognising domain expertise on its own terms.
Was It an Ego Issue? Vir Sanghvi Asks
During the conversation, Vir Sanghvi pushed back a little, asking Kapoor whether this was essentially an ego matter — questioning what difference "one rupee" really makes. Kapoor didn't shy away from the question. He revealed that the makers had actually approached him for the very first season of the show, but he walked away when they wouldn't agree to his terms.
His response at the time left no room for negotiation: "I am not coming. I will not do it."
The Turning Point: Season Three
Sanjeev Kapoor didn't get his wish immediately — but the makers eventually came back. He revealed that it was only in the third season that they relented and agreed to pay him more than the celebrity host, finally meeting the condition he'd held firm on from the start.
Recalling how the makers approached him, Kapoor said, "So, third season, they actually said, 'It's not working. We need you. If MasterChef fails in this country, we are doomed."
For Kapoor, this wasn't just about a paycheck — it was a statement. He maintained that the payment condition was non-negotiable because it represented something larger: the value of his years of experience and contribution to the culinary world.
From Refusal to Reality TV's Most Recognised Chef
Once he came on board, Sanjeev Kapoor went on to become one of the defining faces of MasterChef India . His presence is widely credited with helping the show find its footing among Indian audiences and cement its place in the country's reality TV landscape.
Kapoor's career stretches well beyond the show, he's built a long-standing reputation through television appearances, cookbooks, and a food brand that has found audiences both in India and abroad. But his association with MasterChef India remains one of the most talked-about chapters of his journey, not just for the show's success, but for the stand he took before ever stepping onto the set.
