The heat in the MasterChef kitchen just got turned up a notch! Celebrity MasterChef India Episode 51, which aired on 7 April 2025 at 8 PM on Sony TV and streamed on Sony Liv, brought with it a thrilling and emotional ride for fans and contestants alike. As we enter the Grand Finale Week, the stakes are higher than ever. The top 5 celebrity cooks stepped into the kitchen, greeted by none other than the ever-charming comedian Munawar Faruqui and the trio of expert judges—Chef Ranveer Brar, Chef Vikas Khanna, and Farah Khan.
The episode kicked off with hearty laughs thanks to Munawar’s quick wit and humour, setting a lively tone. But the light moments quickly turned intense as the judges announced a formidable twist—the Core Ingredients Challenge, a task designed to push the finalists beyond their comfort zones by making them cook with ingredients they fear the most!
The Core Ingredients Challenge – A Fear Factor with a Culinary Twist
Challenge Rules
In the Core Ingredients Challenge, each celebrity had to create a MasterChef-level dish using an ingredient they personally find intimidating or difficult. To add more heat to the kitchen, they had just 90 minutes to whip up a culinary masterpiece. However, a twist was thrown in right from the start!
Gaurav Khanna’s Special Advantage
Since Gaurav Khanna won the Saransh Goila Challenge in the previous episode, he got a special advantage—30 extra minutes to cook, giving him a total of 120 minutes. But there was a catch. Those 30 minutes were deducted from two other contestants’ time, decided by a random chit lottery. As a result, Tejasswi Prakash and Faisal Shaikh lost 15 minutes each, having to complete their dishes in just 75 minutes.
Core Ingredients Assigned to Contestants
The judges made sure to challenge the celebrity cooks with ingredients that test both skill and creativity:
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Gaurav Khanna – Ginger
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Faisal Shaikh – Cheese
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Nikki Tamboli – Crab
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Tejasswi Prakash – Chillies
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Rajiv Adatia – Cherry
Each contestant had to dive deep into their culinary knowledge and creativity to turn these tricky ingredients into something extraordinary.
Cooking Time Allotted Per Contestant
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Gaurav Khanna – 120 minutes
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Rajiv Adatia – 90 minutes
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Nikki Tamboli – 90 minutes
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Tejasswi Prakash – 75 minutes
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Faisal Shaikh – 75 minutes
With the clock ticking, the pantry was wide open, and the race began. The kitchen buzzed with pressure, excitement, and fierce competition as the celebrities dashed to gather ingredients and bring their dishes to life.
Dishes Prepared by Each Contestant
Here’s what the five stars cooked up:
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Nikki Tamboli – Singaporean Black Pepper Crab
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Tejasswi Prakash – Marath Mori Prawn Cheung Fun
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Faisal Shaikh – Golden Flower
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Rajiv Adatia – Cherry Savory Cheesecake
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Gaurav Khanna – Pavlova
Each dish carried personal stories, bold risks, and the pressure of performing in front of world-class judges.
Judges’ Verdict – Gaurav Khanna Makes MasterChef History!
As the final seconds ticked down, all five celebrity chefs plated their dishes, and the moment of truth arrived. The judges took their time, examining each plate with scrutiny and awe. But one dish, in particular, stood out—Gaurav Khanna’s Pavlova.
It wasn’t just a showstopper—it was historic.
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Chef Vikas Khanna gave a spoon drop—without even tasting the dish. Just the look of it was enough to leave him speechless.
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Chef Ranveer Brar followed with a spoon tap—without even tasting the dish, another rare accolade.
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Farah Khan sealed the praise with a hand kiss to Gaurav—again, all before a single bite was taken!
And when they finally did taste it? Pure magic. Chef Vikas even clicked a picture of the dish before diving in—a first in MasterChef India history. The judges hailed it as “a gift to Mother Nature,” praising its presentation, balance, and soulful execution.
What’s Next for Gaurav?
By winning this challenge, Gaurav secures a major advantage in the next challenge—one that could very well lead him to win the entire season. His use of ginger, an often-overpowering ingredient, was delicate yet impactful, making his Pavlova not just a dish but a culinary experience.
The bar has been set sky-high for the rest of the finalists, and with the grand finale inching closer, fans can’t wait to see what comes next.