The grand finale of Celebrity MasterChef was nothing short of a rollercoaster filled with fire, flavor, and feelings that tugged at the heart. Tejasswi Prakash, one of the top contenders, got a surprise that was emotional and symbolic. As she braced herself for the final cook-off, someone special walked in, actor Karan Kundrra.
Tejasswi’s reaction was pure shock wrapped in joy. Karan entered the kitchen carrying something familiar. It wasn’t just a piece of clothing. It was the panda jacket, one that carried memories, milestones, and moments from the time their love story began on Bigg Boss.
Karan, with a gentle smile, held it out to her. “This is a good luck charm from me,” he said. That jacket was his, gifted to her during their reality TV journey, and it had been with her for a long time. Recently, it had landed back at his place, and she had forgotten about it. But Karan hadn’t. He brought it back right when she needed it most.
For Tejasswi, it wasn’t just a jacket. It was belief wrapped in fabric. She said that her dream of one day owning a restaurant and earning a Michelin star wasn’t just hers, it was built on his support. “The Michelin star dream… the credit goes to Karan,” she said.
She recalled how he would often tell her that he’d open the restaurant for her someday. His words planted that dream in her heart. In her own words, “He always encouraged me, saying, ‘Baby, I will open it for you and one day you’ll get that star.’ This dream exists because he believed in me.”
While the kitchen buzzed with activity, Karan remained close to her counter. He shared that the last three months had been a blur of togetherness and food content. They didn’t even watch TV anymore. Their screens were filled with food reels, and their evenings with recipe trials. He’d never seen her this focused, he admitted. It made him happy.
As emotions blended with aromas in the air, the judges watched quietly. Then came another moment that felt life-changing. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, impressed with Tejasswi’s journey and her dish, stepped forward and offered his contact card. Her hands trembled a little. Her voice cracked, “This is huge,” she said. Holding the card tightly, she added that she’d call him every time she got stuck. The gesture from the legendary chef gave her not just confidence, but a pathway to reach the next level.
The admiration didn’t stop there. Vikas Khanna was clear and confident in his assessment. “She can run a restaurant. She gets what food means to people.” That wasn’t just praise, it was validation. Ranveer Brar joined in with his signature warmth. He looked at her and said, “You’re very lucky. A Marathi mulgi knows how to drive life forward.”
Tejasswi may have started this journey alone, but she ended it surrounded by love, support, and belief – served warm, just like the perfect dish.