I want to develop a place where I can cook scrumptious food for the Mumbai street children - Chef Ajay Chopra

The man who got instant stardom when he appeared on Masterchef India as a judge, a lot more culinary talent lies behind Chef Ajay Chopra. Having started his career way back in 2000, there has been no looking back for this star chef. Today, he is one of the most popular and talented chefs in India who is currently presenting two shows on TV. His sweet nature yet strict with taste attitude makes him a champ and Tellychakkar.com got an opportunity to chat with the man. Excerpts from the interview. How has life changed post being part of a TV show Masterchef India? Masterchef has been a game changer in my life. There are many talented chefs in this country but only a few have got this platform to showcase themselves. And I couldn’t have asked for a bigger stage than Masterchef. Post the show, food has become glorious in India and the chefs creating that magic are called celebs. Do you think TV has changed people's perception towards cooking and chefs? Absolutely. it has made such a huge impact on people that they have even started to think different. Master Chef India's First season's call for entry was " Tasty dish warnaa game finish" sent a straight message that come and show your talent but the second season called , "Ab badlo India apney khaaney ka andaaz" meant that as a country we have had very set patterns to eat our very own food, even regional indian food was very alien to us. But now with the help of television food has a much larger spectrum Tell us more about your show? I am presently doing "Veggistan" on NDTV Good Times which focuses on more Indian veg food. The focus of this show is to create magical food with easily accessible ingredients and obviously make veg food more glorious My other show on Food Food "Hi Tea" takes the viewers around the world for a tea journey and the lovely snacks and making some really intricate dishes and simplifying or demystifying them. What is more difficult- handling a TV show or cooking live in your kitchen? I think both have their perils and both are tough, but it becomes more difficult when you have to do both. Being on the TV as chef is the most difficult task. Personally what kind of food you enjoy cooking and eating? I enjoy cooking modern Indian food but I love eating Asian food (Chinese food , Japanese food and Thai food). Whose cooking do you like in real life? Truly my wife Given a chance for whom would you like to cook? I would love to cook for all those people who do not even get one proper meal a day. I want to develop a place where I could cook for all the Mumbai street child beggars and feed them with some scrumptious food. Share a little more about who Chef Ajay is in real life and your journey in the profession? Like any journey which you might undertake, it will take you from a point to another. Mine certainly has, a road filled with adventures, lost directions, U-turns, speed breakers and the occasional detours from the tracks. I will modestly say my life has been rewarding and satisfying so far as a chef. Toiling away in professional kitchens, long hours, monotony, pressures of running top-class kitchens takes a toll on chefs, what could be assumed as occupational hazards. Being inspired from so many champions and my heroes, I persevered, I stuck it out, and I lasted and won! Any message to budding kitchen stars? It is glorious to be a celebrity chef, but one must take that journey full of challenges and experiences to become that celebrity. Learning the cuisine and skill is imperative. It is that form of art which you cannot start exploring unless you know the basics. A chef must always walk on this statement, said by Thomas Paine, "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”