Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 42 (25 March 2025): Written Updates, Triple Trouble Black Apron Challenge, Best Dish & Emotional Elimination!

Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 42, which aired on 25 March 2025 at 8 PM on Sony TV and streamed on Sony Liv, delivered an intense dose of drama, culinary mastery, and heartfelt emotions. The episode featured the highly anticipated Triple Trouble Black Apron Challenge, where the remaining 5 contestants had to battle it out for survival.

Here’s a full recap of the episode, including the dishes cooked, the best dish winner, and the heart-breaking goodbye.

Triple Trouble Black Apron Challenge: Rules & Format

The episode began with the 5 remaining contestants—all in the danger zone—entering the MasterChef Kitchen, where the three judges, Chef Kunal Kapur, Farah Khan, and Chef Ranveer Brar, were waiting with three mystery boxes placed before them.

🎯 Challenge Rules:

• Contestants Pick Their Mystery Box: Each contestant had to choose between Chef Kunal Kapur’s and Chef Ranveer Brar’s mystery boxes, which contained unique ingredients and came with their respective time limits.

• Farah Khan’s Mystery Box: This was a compulsory box, but its contents were revealed later during the challenge, adding an unexpected twist.

• Elimination Threat: The contestant who cooked the weakest dish would be eliminated from the show.

Mystery Box Choices: Ingredients and Time Limits

🍲 Chef Kunal Kapur’s Mystery Box:

• Ingredients: Australian Blood Lime (with access to the MasterChef Extensive Support Pantry)

• Time Limit: 120 minutes

🐟 Chef Ranveer Brar’s Mystery Box:

• Ingredients: Himalayan Trout, Sea Buckthorn Berries, Blueberries, Brazil Nuts, Dill Soya, Shiitake Mushrooms, Apricots, Kalari Cheese, Kerala Red Rice (Minimum 4 ingredients had to be used)

• Time Limit: 90 minutes

Contestants’ Mystery Box Selections

Here’s who picked which mystery box:

• Gaurav Khanna: Chef Kunal Kapur’s Mystery Box

• Usha Nadkarni: Chef Ranveer Brar’s Mystery Box

• Rajiv Adatia: Chef Kunal Kapur’s Mystery Box

• Tejasswi Prakash: Chef Ranveer Brar’s Mystery Box

• Archana Gautam: Chef Kunal Kapur’s Mystery Box

Dishes Cooked: Creativity at Its Peak

Once the mystery boxes were selected, the time limit started, and the contestants began crafting their culinary masterpieces. Here’s what each contestant prepared:

• Rajiv Adatia: Australian Lime Drizzle, Lemon Cake with Mint Sorbet

• Archana Gautam: Australian Lime Chicken with Lemon Rice

• Usha Nadkarni: Stuffed Fish

• Tejasswi Prakash: Trout

• Gaurav Khanna: Lime Ice Cream 

Farah Khan’s Mystery Box: A Game-Changing Twist!

With 60 minutes remaining in the challenge, Farah Khan’s Mystery Box was finally opened—and to everyone’s surprise, it contained a Pressure Cooker.

👩‍🍳 Twist:

• All contestants were compelled to incorporate the pressure cooker in their dishes in some way, pushing their creativity and time management skills to the limit.

This twist added an extra layer of tension, forcing the contestants to think quickly and improvise their cooking techniques.

Judging Time: Tasting and Evaluations

As the countdown ended, the contestants presented their dishes to the judges. Chef Kunal Kapur, Chef Ranveer Brar, and Farah Khan carefully evaluated each dish based on:
✅ Taste and Flavour Balance
✅ Use of Ingredients
✅ Creativity and Presentation
✅ Incorporation of the Pressure Cooker

🏆 Best Dish Winners: Archana Gautam and Gaurav Khanna Shine!

After meticulous tasting and deliberation, the judges declared a tie for the Best Dish award.

• Archana Gautam’s Australian Lime Chicken with Lemon Rice impressed the judges with its perfect balance of flavours and the incorporation of citrus elements.

• Gaurav Khanna’s Lime Ice Cream was praised for its refreshing and innovative dessert concept.

Both contestants were safe and advanced to the next round.

💔 Weakest Dish: Emotional Elimination for Usha Nadkarni

Unfortunately, Usha Nadkarni’s Stuffed Fish failed to meet the judges’ expectations.

• The dish lacked the expected complexity and finesse required at this stage of the competition.

• Despite her best efforts, Usha’s dish was deemed the weakest of the challenge, leading to her elimination from the show.

😢 An Emotional Farewell:

As Usha Nadkarni bid an emotional goodbye, fellow contestants and judges couldn’t hold back their tears. The veteran actress had won hearts with her dedication and spirit, making her departure a deeply touching moment.

🎯 Final 6 Contestants Left in the Trophy Race

With Usha Nadkarni’s elimination, only 6 contestants remain in the hunt for the prestigious Celebrity MasterChef India Season 1 trophy:

1. Archana Gautam

2. Faisal Shaikh

3. Gaurav Khanna

4. Nikki Tamboli

5. Rajiv Adatia

6. Tejasswi Prakash

Key Highlights of Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 42

✅ Triple Trouble Black Apron Challenge: High-stakes battle with mystery ingredients and time constraints.
✅ Farah Khan’s Twist: The unexpected introduction of a pressure cooker pushed contestants’ creativity to the next level.
✅ Best Dish Winners: Archana Gautam and Gaurav Khanna impressed the judges with their unique and flavourful dishes.
✅ Emotional Elimination: Usha Nadkarni’s departure left the contestants and viewers with heartfelt emotions.

Final Remarks: Excitement Builds as the Trophy Race Narrows

Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 42 was a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing the contestants’ resilience and talent under pressure. With Usha Nadkarni’s emotional elimination, the competition is now fiercer than ever as the remaining 6 contestants inch closer to the coveted Celebrity MasterChef India Season 1 trophy. As the intensity builds, fans can expect even more creativity, surprises, and emotional moments in the upcoming episodes.