by The auditions for MasterChef India Season 10 continued in episode 2, which aired on January 6, 2026, on the SET India TV channel and Sony LIV app. The brilliant trio — Chef Vikas Khanna, Chef Ranveer Brar, and Chef Kunal Kapur — once again judged the dishes prepared by the aspiring participants, awarding selection aprons to the deserving ones.
In this episode, aspiring participant pairs from across India — from Bundelkhand to Kashmir — showcased their culinary skills. The show featured inspiring stories, impressive dishes, and even a blind tasting segment to add an exciting twist.
Pair 1: Vishnu Purohit and Harshani Awasthi Purohit (Bundelkhand) – Harshani entered the MasterChef kitchen with her father-in-law, Vishnu Purohit, greeting the judges with “Jai Shree Ram.” Vishnu mentioned that they own a restaurant where their Satvik Thali sells for around ₹300 on average.
Chef Ranveer Brar was impressed by Vishnu’s humility. They presented their “Bundeli Thali”, explaining each element in detail. The judges loved the flavors, and Chef Vikas Khanna said he had never tasted anything like it before. The pair were selected for the next round and received the MasterChef apron.
Pair 2: Kanchana Devi and Raksha Devi (Himachal Pradesh) – Kanchana and her mother-in-law Raksha entered the MasterChef kitchen, accompanied by Kanchana’s husband, Pankaj. Kanchana revealed that she runs her own café with the tagline “Local Food by Local Women.”
They served “Kangari Dhaam,” a traditional Himachali dish, and explained its various components. After tasting, the judges were impressed and awarded them the selection apron, which Pankaj proudly placed on both Kanchana and Raksha.
Pair 3: Anupurna Kaul and Babbly Sawhney Bhat (Kashmir) – Two Kashmiri sisters, Anupurna and Babbly, shared their emotional story of leaving Kashmir during the riots of 1989.
They served food in the traditional Kashmiri Wazwan style, inviting the judges to sit on the floor. The judges appreciated the authentic flavours and selected them for the next round.
Pair 4: Ritu Singh and Gulaab Chauhan (Varanasi) – Ritu, a spirited contestant, entered the MasterChef kitchen and playfully flirted with Chef Vikas Khanna, making him blush as Ranveer and Kunal teased him. Her husband, Gulaab, later joined her, and they presented dishes like Kachori and Chaat.
Unfortunately, the judges didn’t like the taste and advised them to try again next year.
Blind Tasting Segment: The judges then decided to conduct a special blind tasting, where only the pairs whose dishes impressed them would be called in. One standout dish, Fish Wellington, caught their attention, and they invited its creators inside the kitchen.
Pair 5: Anju Pradhan and Manju Ojha (Odisha) – It turned out that Anju and Manju, from Odisha, were behind the Fish Wellington — a surprising twist since both are vegetarians. They shared that they joined the show to fulfill their dreams after raising their children. Impressed both by their story and flavors, the judges selected them for the next round.
Special Guest Appearance: Shaik Akbar Hussain aka Viral Panwala (Telangana) – Akbar, a specially-abled viral personality from Telangana, entered the MasterChef kitchen on a wheelchair. He made his famous Fire Paans live for the judges, who praised their unique taste and gave him a standing ovation.
Pair 6: SaiSri Rachakonda and Chandana Rachakonda (Telangana) – Former MasterChef Telugu contestant SaiSri entered with her mother Chandana. At just 24, SaiSri shared that she owns her own restaurant and aims to make South Indian flavors popular across India.
They served Natu Natu Kodi, which greatly impressed the judges. Chef Ranveer Brar gave them a “spoon beat” saying “Swad Aagaya,” while Chef Kunal Kapur dropped his fork in delight. The duo were selected for the next round.
This marked the end of MasterChef India Season 10 Episode 2, which delivered not only emotional stories — such as that of the Kashmiri sisters — but also showcased India’s cultural and culinary diversity.
The auditions will continue in Episode 3, featuring even more amazing and innovative cooks from across the country.
Stay connected with us for more updates on MasterChef India Season 10! For any queries related to this episode, feel free to drop a comment below.
