Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna doesn’t need introduction. From hosting the Indian version of MasterChef to cooking for the then US President Barack Obama at the White House, the Michelin Star chef has made India proud on countless occasions.
The affable chef had recently revealed how a Muslim family in Mumbai had saved his life during the riots in Mumbai immediately after the demolition of Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992. The video of Khanna’s interview with actor Anupam Kher had gone viral on social media platforms.
Utterly moving! pic.twitter.com/Z42L5luQSZ
— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) January 31, 2018
In the interview Khanna implied that he had not been able to meet the family. Khanna had recounted how the Muslim family had given him refuge in their small house. The chef, then relatively new in Mumbai, had set off to find out if his brother was fine as the riots broke out across the city. A Muslim family, he added, found him at a crossroad and had given him shelter in their house. When a Muslim mob entered the family’s house, they lied to them saying that Khanna was a Muslim and one of their sons.
Khanna told Kher that the episode left an everlasting impression on him. He said that he’s been observing one Ramadan fast every year for the family.
On 11 June, Khanna posted a photo of breaking Ramadan fast at Delhi’s Jama Masjid. The celebrity chef wrote, “Heartwarming evening. All Heart. Tears. Pain. Pride. Courage. Humanity. Gratitude. This will be the most significant and important EID of my life. Thank you everyone to connect me with my souls”.
Heartwarming evening.
All Heart. Tears. Pain. Pride. Courage. Humanity. Gratitude. This will be the most significant and important EID of my life. Thank you everyone to connect me with my souls. pic.twitter.com/apdposBSDe— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) June 12, 2018
His subsequent tweet carried a photo of the chef breaking fast with a family with Delhi’s Jama Masjid in the background. He wrote, “On the holy occasion of EID. May every home and heart be filled with abundance, happiness and peace. #EidMubarak. May this EID bring the world together. #Gratitude.”
On the holy occasion of EID. May every home and heart be filled with abundance, happiness and peace. #EidMubarak
May this EID bring the world together. #Gratitude pic.twitter.com/jGgy0y44oQ— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) June 13, 2018
Earlier in the day, he had tweeted, “This is one of the happiest day of my life. @AnupamPKher ji had interviewed me last year for @republic & I shared the story of Muslim family that saved my life during riots. WE FOUND THEM & today I shall break the fast with them.”
This is one of the happiest day of my life. @AnupamPKher ji had interviewed me last year for @republic & I shared the story of Muslim family that saved my life during riots.
WE FOUND THEM & today I shall break the fast with them
vikas khanna Anupam Kher https://t.co/wldNhL5it2— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) June 11, 2018
There were many, who wanted Khanna to share photos or video of his reunion with the family, who had saved his life 26 years ago. Khanna has also turned producer with his debut film The Last Colour soon to be released, which is the adaptation of the award-winning chef’s book, published by Bloomsbury India.