Sanjeev Kapoor Reveals Rejecting MasterChef India For Not Being Paid Rs 1 More Than Akshay Kumar; Says, “I Didn’t Want To Compromise”

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor needs no introduction. The The Padma Shri winner – who brought restaurant-style cooking into every Indian home with his immensely popular TV show Khana Khazana, is still relevant and much loved and respected by many. Aside from hosting cooking shows, his popularity also grew when he joined MasterChef India, where he played a key role in shaping the franchise’s success. During a recent appearance on a podcast, Culinary Culture, the chef got candid about his decades-long career and even why he wasn’t part of the initial seasons of MasterChef India. For the unversed, the cooking reality show debuted its first season in India in 2010. Sanjeev joined it in 2013, aka in its third season. Sanjeev Kapoor: “I Wanted To Be Paid Rs 1 More Than Akshay Kumar” While conversing on journalist and author Vir Sanghvi’s podcast, Sanjeev Kapoor revealed he was approached to be one of the judges on the show’s maiden season alongside Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. The chef revealed that he rejected the offer because he demanded that he be paid more than Akshay and the makers didn’t comply. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sugar Free (@sugarfree.india) Chef Sanjeev said, “When they first came to me, they did not meet my condition,” he said. “My condition was that I should be paid more than Akshay Kumar, just one rupee more. This was the first season, and there was nobody else who could do it but me. It was quite obvious. But when they came to me, I said, ‘There is a condition.’ They did not agree, and I didn’t want to compromise. I was happy with my decision.” Despite repeated requests from the makers, Sanjeev Kapoor refused to be part of the show even as a guest. The chef revealed, “I would still get feelers. They would say, ‘Sir, please come for one episode.’ I said, ‘No, I will not do it.’” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjeev Kapoor (@sanjeevkapoor) However, ahead of the third season, the makers approached him again as the show struggled to find its footing. He noted, “By the third season, they actually said, ‘Sir, it’s not working. We need you. What do you think we should do?’ I said, ‘I don’t think I can…’ They replied, ‘No, we’ll do exactly what you say,’ and all of that.” When asked whether he eventually received a higher fee than Akshay Kumar, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor responded with a laugh, “Oh, obviously they did. Obviously. That was not negotiable. If I can’t command that, then what’s the point?” About The Show MasterChef India began in 2010 and recently concluded its ninth season. The first season was judged by Akshay Kumar, Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra. The next season saw Chef Vikas Khanna replace Kumar. The just-concluded season saw Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur as its judges. For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to  Bollywood Bubble . Also Read: Akshay Kumar Seeks Blessings At Vaishno Devi Temple Ahead Of Welcome To Th