Posted on: November 11, 2025 Posted by: admin Comments: 0
masterChef India Season 1 winner

MasterChef Indian Season One was the beginning of a new era in Indian television and introduced viewers to a culinary competition reality show that showcased the country’s best culinary talent. The show premiered in the Indian channel Star Plus on October 16 in 2010, and wrapping up with the grand finale in December 25th, 2010 the season was awe-inspiring to viewers with its mix of talent, drama and love of food. here I’ll provide you with information about MasterChef India season 1 winner the contestants, judges and contestants and much more. The first season winner was Pankaj Bhadouria, a school teacher from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

The style of the show is inspired by the MasterChef show in Australia that is created through Endemol Shine and the format of the show is very simple in the first rounds, which comprise of contestants from all over India each auditioning individually, and making a presentation to the three judges in order to win one of 50 semi-final positions.

50 semi-finalists compete each other to test their knowledge of food preparation and abilities. From the 50 contestants only a handful of contestants (12) were left to compete in the final stage show which are shown on television. The winner will be able to host to host their own cooking show as well as a cookbook that they write, as well as cash prize.

MasterChef India Season 1 Winner – Pankaj Bhadouria (Year: 2010)

The finale came from Pankaj Bhadouria. she was from Lucknow and worked as an educator. But the show transformed her life.

Her win was more than an accomplishment for her, but an endorsement of the show’s purpose of transforming people who are not chefs into culinary superstars. Pankaj’s path from the classroom to the kitchen was a source of inspiration for many, and her victory confirmed the notion that dedication and passion can result in extraordinary achievements.

After her victory, Pankaj ventured into various culinary avenues. She hosted cooking shows on various channels that included “Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka” and “Kifayati Kitchen,” and wrote cookbooks such as “Barbie: I Am a Chef” and “Chicken from My Kitchen.” Her efforts have greatly affected the way that home cooks are presented in India.

If you’re curious to know about other seasons’ winners, you can check out our recent post ” MasterChef India Winners Name List“.

Prize Money

One of the contestants from Season 1 Pankaj Bhadouria was awarded the cash prize of one crore. This huge prize emphasized the show’s commitment to honoring and fostering the best chefs in India.

Judges and Host of Masterchef India

The first season on the program was anchored by Bollywood Kumar and other 2 judges. Their names are as they are:

Season 1 was dominated by a prestigious group of judges.

  • Akshay Kumar: The Bollywood actor, well-known for his cooking background was a star with the star power and unique perspective to the show.
  • Kunal Kapur Chef of renown The expertise of Kunal and his constructive criticisms helped contestants navigate their culinary adventures.
  • Ajay Chopra with his years of knowledge of the culinary industry, Ajay provided valuable insights and guidance to the participants.

Akshay Kumar was also the host, bringing charisma and enthusiasm to the show’s production.

MasterChef India Season 1 Contestants Name List

Contestant Age From Occupation Status
Pankaj Bhadouria 38 Lucknow Teacher Winner
Jayanandan Bhaskar 24 Lucknow Employed as a Chef at
Leela Kempinski hotel
Gurgaon
Runner-Up
Radhicka Agarwaal 28 Dehradun Event Manager Third Place
Joe Bath 42 Delhi TV Host of a show Eliminated
Kandla Nijhowne 54 Chandigarh Food Columnist Eliminated
Zebi Zubair 28 Lucknow Housewife Eliminated
Smita Dugar 38 Hyderabad Artist Eliminated
Sweta Pareekh 28 Jaipur Banker Eliminated
Ankita Chakravorty 19 Noida Student Eliminated
Pritesh Chothani 28 Mumbai Asst. Manager Eliminated
Parul Sukhwani 23 Indore Radio Jockey Eliminated
Archana Chouhan 39 Meerut Housewife Eliminated

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