Chef Vikas KhannaHis life story is a profound journey of resilience, humility and purpose.

Born with a congenital foot defect in India and facing discrimination and hardship, he defied expectations to become one of the most famous Indians. chefs in the world.

Khanna's grandmother inspired him by teaching him the beauty of the Indian kitchen and the cyclical nature of life. Despite facing countless obstacles, including homelessness and personal loss, Khanna has become a voice for the underserved and a champion of Indian heritage. He is committed to making meaningful and impactful work that transcends the culinary world.

His early experiences laid the foundation for his culinary passion, culminating in becoming a Michelin-starred chef, host of MasterChef Indiaauthor of more than 35 books and documentary filmmaker. These projects reflect his commitment to represent Indian culture on the global stage.

Related: How This Beverage CEO Used His Passion For Hip-Hop To Forge Partnerships With Jay-Z, Rick Ross And More

Head at a crossroads

During a challenging period that forced him to close his restaurant, Khanna found himself at a crossroads, looking for guidance and inspiration. A chance meeting with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, gave him the affirmation he needed: “When everything closes, it's good because it sets you free. It's time to start over,” he recalls the Dalai Lama saying.

Prompted by these words, Khanna embarked on a transformative journey through Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, Northern India, Myanmar, Western China and Pakistan, recording his reflections and immersing himself in different cultures.

This experience led to the creation of a James Beard Award-nominated magazine. For Khanna, failure was not an end, but a powerful catalyst to explore new paths, sparking his journey of self-discovery and growth.

Related: These husband-and-wife co-founders started a food brand to share Chinese culture – Then a clever rebrand took their company to the next level

At his restaurant in New York, One-story housewhich opened in 2024, Khanna's dishes capture personal stories, such as a lotus root dish honoring the woman who sheltered him during the Mumbai riots, underscoring his blend of culinary artistry and life experience.

Bungalow honors his late sister's dream to create the best Indian restaurant in the world, marking the culmination of a remarkable career before he fully dedicated himself to his mission to fight hunger in India.

The bungalow embodies Khanna's belief that restaurants must make innovative changes to reinvigorate the industry. “Restaurants have to reinvent themselves,” he tells Shawn Walchef Cali BBQ Media. “New energy is coming to the business, and most guests will be looking for something new. Restaurants should be very experiential. They should motivate people to leave the comfort of home and come to a new space and find this creative energy of a community”.

Khanna's work extends beyond the kitchen; his Feed India the initiative has served millions of meals. Driven by a deep empathy for marginalized groups, Khanna also brought to light the struggles of Indian widows with Last colora novel and film inspired by witnessing the isolation of widows during Holi, the festival of colors.

This exciting portrayal reached over 100 film festivals and earned Khanna the role of global ambassador for Global Fund for Widows. His mission to shed light on the plight of the 350 million disenfranchised widows worldwide has led to profound social change and empowered women to reclaim their voices.

(People used to say), 'keep cooking'. I said no, take heart,” says Khanna. “It's so amazing how a film can touch so many people, and I'm so proud to have created it.”

Matching his love of Indian cuisine and uplifting the disenfranchised, Khanna is also a fierce advocate for cultural celebration and social change. His book of 1200 pages, Utsav: A Culinary Epic of Indian Festivalscaptures the spirit of India's festivals and traditions.

Khanna personally delivered copies of the book to global icons such as Queen Elizabeth, President Barack Obama and Pope Francis.

“It started with a small idea, but then I became very obsessed with rediscovering India,” Khanna says of the inspiration behind the book. “This is fantastic for me because I have knowledge and information about recipes and celebrations, so I can create something like this.”

Despite countless obstacles, Khanna has become a voice for the underserved and a champion of Indian heritage. His work includes his commitment to meaningful and impactful work that transcends the culinary world.

Related: This food network staple feeds his passion for the fast-paced restaurant life in just 3 days a month

Around Restaurant influencers

Restaurant influencers brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant POS and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Toast – Empowering successful restaurants. Learn more about toast.