by MasterChef India Season 10 premiered on January 5, 2026, and began with the audition rounds, where aspiring contestants appeared in pairs to present their dishes to the three judges — Chef Vikas Khanna, Chef Ranveer Brar, and Chef Kunal Kapur. In this opening episode, contestants from states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Kerala showcased their beautifully prepared and innovative dishes to impress the judges.
The episode started with Judges Chef Vikas Khanna and Chef Ranveer Brar entering the MasterChef kitchen. They discussed the new format of the show, where participants will compete in pairs. Then, the OG judge Chef Kunal Kapur entered the kitchen, and both Vikas and Ranveer warmly welcomed him back to MasterChef India after a four-year absence. After that, the auditions began.
Pair 1: Anshmeet Singh and Prabhjeet Kaur (from Punjab) – A brother-sister duo from Punjab presented their dish to the judges. Anshmeet shared that participating in MasterChef India was his dream, and he brought his younger sister along to fulfill it.
They served a dish titled Mummy Dadi Nani Ke Nuskhe. Chef Vikas found the tart slightly overcooked, but Chef Ranveer praised the overall taste. Chef Kunal appreciated the Panjeeri in the dish the most. The duo received their aprons and got selected.
Pair 2: Parvati Soni and Himang Soni (from Bikaner) – A mother-son duo from Bikaner came with their traditional dish. Parvati told the judges that she works at a restaurant and also spoke about her husband’s profession. She shared her inspiring story of managing studies alongside raising her son.
Parvati then served her dish, an extinct royal delicacy from Bikaner. After tasting, the judges said they wouldn’t get the apron immediately, but one of the chefs would tell her in five minutes what went wrong. Moments later, Parvati’s husband walked in carrying the selection aprons, revealing that both Parvati and Himang had been selected for the next stage.
Pair 3: Archana Dhotre and Rupali Jadhav (from Maharashtra) – A Jethani-Devrani duo from Maharashtra came and shared their story. Archana revealed that she runs her own YouTube cooking channel.
They prepared Prawns Risotto with a Malwani twist. After tasting, all three judges loved the flavors and awarded them the aprons, selecting them for the next round.
Pair 4: Deepali Bihani and Jamuna Somani (from Rajasthan) – The sister duo from Rajasthan shared that they live in a joint family. Deepali’s humorous way of speaking made all three judges laugh. They served a fusion of Rajasthani and Maharashtrian delicacies, which the judges thoroughly enjoyed. Both sisters got selected for the next stage.
Pair 5: Venu Sharma and Avani Sharma (from Kerala) – Avani appeared with her father and served a dish inspired by the Karada community, titled Nostalgic Monsoon. The judges complimented Venu Sharma, saying he looked handsome and had a Mohanlal vibe.
Avani explained all the elements of the Nostalgic Monsoon dish. After tasting, the judges loved the flavors and awarded them the aprons, securing their place in the next round.
Guest Appearance: Ratna Tamang (from Nepal) – A specially-abled contestant from Nepal, Ratna Tamang, came to the auditions. He shared his emotional story of losing both arms, which moved all three judges to tears.
Ratna then cooked noodles live in front of the judges. They were amazed and deeply inspired by his determination and skill despite his disability. Chef Ranveer Brar presented him with a chef’s knife and cap. All three judges gave him a standing ovation before he left the kitchen.
This marked the end of MasterChef India Season 10 Episode 1 — an episode filled with laughter, emotion, and truly inspiring stories that gave everyone goosebumps.
Stay tuned for Episode 2 of MasterChef India Season 10 for more such amazing auditions and updates. For any questions or thoughts about this episode, feel free to leave a comment below!
