The finale week of Celebrity MasterChef has begun, and the heat in the kitchen is higher than ever. With the top five contestants, Gaurav Khanna, Faisal Shaikh, Tejasswi Prakash, Nikki Tamboli, and Rajiv Adatia, fighting for the title, every episode brings more pressure and precision.
The latest challenge came from guest Chef Rahul Rana. He didn’t go easy on the stars. Instead, he designed a pressure test that tested not just cooking skills but also patience, speed, and attention to detail. The challenge featured six distinct dishes, each representing one of the six tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, pungent, and astringent. Together, the dishes had 150 components and 150 pressure points. The time given? Exactly 150 minutes.
Every contestant entered the kitchen knowing it would be one of the toughest tasks yet. The complexity wasn’t just about flavor. There were layers of textures, colors, and techniques to master. Every element had to be perfect. Judges Farah Khan, Chef Ranveer Brar, and Chef Vikas Khanna watched closely from start to finish.
Gaurav Khanna, who won an advantage in the previous episode, had a lifeline. He was allowed to get help from Chef Rahul Rana during the cook but only once, and only for the most challenging component. This advantage was a big deal, especially considering Gaurav’s color blindness. The dishes were vibrant and required keen color coordination. Gaurav struggled with that aspect but kept moving forward with quiet focus.
He decided to use Chef Rahul Rana’s help for the sweet potato element. That particular component had been giving him trouble, and he felt it could make or break his plate. Even with assistance, things didn’t go exactly as planned. Gaurav found it hard to match the speed and finesse of some of the other contestants. Despite his determination and Chef Ranveer Brar’s guidance during the cook, he fell slightly behind.
Faisal Shaikh, on the other hand, stepped up with confidence. He moved swiftly and stayed focused throughout the cook. His energy was balanced with discipline, and it showed in his final plate. When it came time for tasting, both Gaurav and Faisal presented commendable dishes. Vikas Khanna acknowledged the effort from both and said, “Both their dishes were quite good.”
But the competition is about precision. Faisal managed to get 16 elements correct out of 22. That slight edge gave him a clear win. The judges were impressed with his consistency and ability to maintain flavor and balance under pressure. This victory earned him an advantage in the next episode, an important boost as the finale nears.
Faisal now moves forward with momentum. Gaurav gears up to come back stronger. And the rest of the finalists are just as ready to give it everything they’ve got.