MasterChef India is one of the most popular cooking reality TV programmes in India. The show brings together talented home cooks from around the country, and gives them an opportunity to showcase their cooking skills. Contestants compete against each other in various food challenges and attempt to impress the judges with creativity, taste and presentation.
The show initially started in 2010 and it has gradually increased in popularity. Every season a fresh cast of contestants, rigorous cooking competitions, celebrity judges and one worthy winner. The number of home cooks that MasterChef India has helped transform into a professional chef, food entrepreneur, and TV personality over the years.
In this article, you will discover the MasterChef India Winners List of All Season, as well as some key details, such as Hosts, Judges, Prize Money, and some highlights.
MasterChef India – Winners, Hosts & Judges
| Season | Year | Winner | Host(s) | Judges |
| 1 | 2010 | Pankaj Bhadouria | Akshay Kumar, Kunal Kapur, Ajay Chopra | Akshay Kumar, Kunal Kapur, Ajay Chopra |
| 2 | 2011 | Shipra Khanna | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Ajay Chopra | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Ajay Chopra |
| 3 | 2013 | Ripudaman Handa | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Sanjeev Kapoor | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Sanjeev Kapoor |
| 4 | 2015 | Nikita Gandhi | Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar | Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar |
| 5 | 2016 | Kirti Bhoutika | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Zorawar Kalra | Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur, Zorawar Kalra |
| 6 | 2019–2020 | Abinas Nayak | Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, Vineet Bhatia | Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, Vineet Bhatia |
| 7 | 2023 | Nayanjyoti Saikia | Judges also served as hosts | Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, Garima Arora |
| 8 | 2023 | Mohammad Ashiq | Judges also served as hosts | Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, Pooja Dhingra |
Format & Background
MasterChef India is based on the format of MasterChef Australia. The show is held in a huge MasterChef kitchen in Mumbai. Contestants cook by time pressure and are tackled with different challenges such as Mystery Box, Skills Test, Team Challenges and Pressure Tests.
The judges score every dish on the taste, creativity and presentation. One contestant takes away the title of MasterChef India, prize money and a trophy. The show is aired on StarPlus and Sony Entertainment Television streaming also available on SonyLIV.
MasterChef India Season 1 Winner – Pankaj Bhadouria (2010)
Season 1 began on 16 October 2010 and 25 December 2010 on StarPlus. Akshay Kumar hosted the season along with Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra who are chefs. Pankaj Bhadouria won the title and got ₹1 crore prize money. She later became a well-known TV chef and author. This season was India’s welcome to the MasterChefs and was an instant hit.
MasterChef India Season 2 Winner – Shipra Khanna (2011)
Season 2 ran from 22nd October 2011 to 1st January 2012. The three judges were Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra. Shipra Khanna from Shimla won the competition and she took home ₹1 crore. The season brought stiffer challenges, world cuisines and contestant inspirations.
MasterChef India Season 3 Winner – Ripudaman Handa (2013)
Season 3 aired between 11 March 2013 and 9 June 2013. Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur and Sanjeev Kapoor were the judges. Ripudaman Handa won MasterChef India for the first time for a male winner. The prize money was ₹1 crore. This season aired on weekdays, and received strong viewership.
MasterChef India Season 4 Winner – Nikita Gandhi (2015)
Season 4 was aired between 26 January 2015 to 12 April 2015. A pure vegetarian format was the new feature that came with this season. Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar were the three judges. Nikita Gandhi won the title and he got ₹1 crore. The vegetarian theme got tremendous attention across the country.
MasterChef India Season 5 Winner – Kirti Bhoutika (2016)
Season 5 aired from 1 October 2016 until 25 December 2016. The judging panel consisted of Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapur and Zorawar Kalra. The first was Kirti Bhoutika who won the title and got ₹50 lakh as prize money. She became one of the youngest winners on the show.
MasterChef India Season 6 Winner – Abinas Nayak (2019–2020)
Season 6 aired from 7 December 2019 to 1 March 2020. The judges were Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Vineet Bhatia. Abinas Nayak won the competition and got ₹25 lakh. The season featured great regional dishes and experimental cooking styles.
MasterChef India Season 7 Winner – Nayanjyoti Saikia (2023)
Season 7 starts from 2 January 2023 and ends on 31 March 2023 on Sony Entertainment Television and SonyLIV. The judges were Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Garima Arora. Nayanjyoti Saikia from Assam won the title and the ₹25 lakh prize. The season became a huge online popularity.
MasterChef India Season 8 Winner – Mohammad Ashiq (2023)
Season 8 premiered on 16 October 2023 on SonyLIV only and it ended on 8 December 2023. The judges were Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Pooja Dhingra. Mohammad Ashiq of Mangalore picked up the trophy and won ₹25 lakh. The focus of the season was creativity and modern Indian food.
Conclusion
MasterChef India continues to inspire millions of viewers and food lovers throughout the country. The show gives talented home cooks a life-changing opportunity to pursue their culinary dreams. Every season is a brand new addition with new talents, fantastic challenges, and heart-warming journeys.
This MasterChef India Winners List of All Season shows how the show has evolved over time and how each winner has made their mark on the Indian food industry. The series continues to be one of the most loved cooking reality shows in India and continues to celebrate passion, creativity, and the joy of cooking.