The latest episode of Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 23, which aired on 26 February 2025 on Sony TV and streamed on Sony Liv, brought an exciting and physically demanding challenge for the contestants—the Healthy Food Challenge.
The twist? Contestants had to cook while their partners pedalled a cardio cycle to keep the stove burning! This test of stamina, teamwork, and cooking skills led to some emotional and chaotic moments in the kitchen.
Challenge Setup – Archana Gautam Stuck in the Balcony!
As the 8 remaining celebrity contestants entered the MasterChef kitchen, one contestant was missing from the competition—Archana Gautam. After delivering the worst dish in the Italian Inspired Dish Challenge in the previous episode, she received the dreaded Black Apron, which meant she couldn’t participate in today’s challenge.
However, judges Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Farah Khan had a surprise twist—Archana would still have a role in the challenge! Since Usha Nadkarni (one of the contestants) is of older age, Archana would take her place on the cardio cycle whenever it was Usha’s turn to paddle. If Archana performed well, she would earn a huge advantage in the upcoming Black Apron Challenge.
Healthy Food Challenge – Contestants & Rules!
The Healthy Food Challenge was announced as a team challenge, where contestants were paired up to create healthy, MasterChef-level dishes.
Pairings for the Challenge:
✅ Tejasswi Prakash & Nikki Tamboli
✅ Gaurav Khanna & Kabita Singh
✅ Usha Nadkarni & Rajiv Adatia
✅ Faisal Shaikh & Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim
Rules of the Challenge:
- Time Limit: 90 minutes
- Cooking Condition: Only one contestant from each pair could cook at a time, while the other had to continuously paddle a cardio cycle.
- Gas Control: The gas stove remained on only while the cardio cycle was being pedalled at a maximum speed. If the contestant stopped paddling, the gas would turn off!
- Switching Roles: Whenever the whistle sounded, the contestants had to swap roles—the one who was paddling had to start cooking, and the cook had to start paddling.
- Pantry Time: Contestants were given 5 minutes to collect their ingredients from the MasterChef pantry.
Cooking Begins – Chaos in the Kitchen!
Once contestants collected their ingredients, the 90-minute timer started.
🔹 First Phase (0-30 Minutes):
- Paddlers: Nikki Tamboli, Rajiv Adatia, Faisal Shaikh, Gaurav Khanna
- Cooks: Tejasswi Prakash, Usha Nadkarni, Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim, Kabita Singh
At this stage, most contestants seemed comfortable, though Usha Nadkarni struggled with the concept of the cardio cycle. Meanwhile, Tejasswi, Dipika, and Kabita focused on making their dishes while Nikki, Rajiv, Faisal, and Gaurav pedalled hard to keep the gas going.
🔹 Second Phase (30-45 Minutes) – First Swap:
- Paddlers: Tejasswi Prakash, Archana Gautam (in place of Usha Nadkarni), Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim, Kabita Singh
- Cooks: Nikki Tamboli, Rajiv Adatia, Faisal Shaikh, Gaurav Khanna
At this point, the real challenge started as contestants struggled with the constant switching of roles. Archana Gautam, who was paddling for Usha, had a determined look, knowing she had to perform well to earn an advantage in the Black Apron Challenge.
🔹 Third Phase (45-50 Minutes) – Second Swap:
- Paddlers: Nikki Tamboli, Rajiv Adatia, Faisal Shaikh, Gaurav Khanna
- Cooks: Tejasswi Prakash, Usha Nadkarni, Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim, Kabita Singh
With 50 minutes left, Farah Khan introduced a surprise twist—she increased the inclination of the cardio cycles, making it more difficult for those paddling! Contestants immediately felt the pressure, as keeping up the required speed became twice as hard.
🔹 Fourth Phase (55 Minutes) – Third Swap:
- Paddlers: Tejasswi Prakash, Archana Gautam (in place of Usha Nadkarni), Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim, Kabita Singh
- Cooks: Nikki Tamboli, Rajiv Adatia, Faisal Shaikh, Gaurav Khanna
At this point, chaos erupted between Usha Nadkarni and Rajiv Adatia. Their lack of coordination led to frustration, and Usha Nadkarni broke down in tears, saying she couldn’t keep up. Archana Gautam tried to comfort her, but the pressure was intense. Meanwhile, other contestants continued to push forward, trying to balance cooking and paddling.
What Happens Next? (Part 2 Preview)
With only 35 minutes remaining, the tension in the MasterChef kitchen is at an all-time high. Will Usha Nadkarni recover and complete the challenge? Will Archana Gautam perform well enough to earn her Black Apron Challenge advantage?
Stay tuned for Part 2, where the contestants finish their dishes, and the best dish of the challenge is revealed!