Celebrity MasterChef India has reached its thrilling finale week, and the pressure is rising with every ticking second. But in the middle of the heat, knives, and fiery stoves, one emotional moment from Gaurav Khanna took center stage not for his cooking, but for a decision.
In the latest episode, the final five contestants, Gaurav Khanna, Tejasswi Prakash, Nikki Tamboli, Faisu, and Rajiv Adatia, were given a high-stakes challenge. Their task was to elevate one core ingredient and build a dish around it. The stage was set. The stakes were sky-high. And Gaurav had something that gave him a huge edge, an earned advantage from last week.
He had cooked the “Best Dish” in the previous episode, earning a coveted bonus: extended cooking time of 120 minutes, compared to the 90 minutes given to others. But there was more. As part of his reward, he was allowed to either cut 30 minutes from one competitor’s cooking time or 15 minutes each from two contestants. The announcement brought a hush to the kitchen.
When Judges Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Farah Khan explained the advantage, everyone waited to see whom Gaurav would pick. But then he said something no one expected. “All five of us, Nikki Tamboli, Tejasswi Prakash, Faisu, and Rajiv Adatia have worked hard to reach here,” he said. “At this point, deducting time from their cooking doesn’t feel right. I don’t think that’s fair for any competitor.”
But then came a twist.
Special guest Munawar Faruqui, who was present during the episode, offered a different perspective. He praised Gaurav’s spirit but reminded him of the game. “Gaurav Bhai, everyone gets advantage at some point. You have earned it. Last time you made a dish, which made you win this advantage. You have a right to it. Not everyone has the right. When you win that trophy, when you win that coat, you won’t divide or share it with them saying all 5 will wear it.”
His words were blunt but honest. He pointed out that fairness also included recognizing one’s win and accepting the perks that come with it.
Ranveer Brar then stepped in to clarify. Since the advantage was part of the game’s structure, it had to be used in some form. Rules were rules. The judges proposed a solution. A random draw would decide who would face the time cut.
All eyes were on the bowl as names were drawn. In the end, Tejasswi and Faisu had their cooking time reduced to 75 minutes. Disappointment showed on their faces, but they didn’t protest. It was fate, not Gaurav, that had chosen them.
Tension thickened as the clock started. With uneven cooking times, the kitchen turned more intense. Every second mattered. Every move was calculated. Yet, despite the pressure, a strange sense of mutual respect lingered.