The finale week of Celebrity MasterChef is heating up, and not just because of the cooking. This season has been packed with flavor, fire, and feuds. The celebrity contestants have shown off their talent in the kitchen, but the journey has also been filled with dramatic confrontations, emotional moments, and plenty of banter. One of the show’s top five finalists, Rajiv Adatia, recently opened up about his experience and the tension between fellow contestants Nikki Tamboli and Gaurav Khanna.
In a candid, Rajiv didn’t hold back while talking about the dynamics inside the kitchen. He spoke about the repeated clashes between Nikki and Gaurav. From the very beginning, something seemed off between them. According to Rajiv, their differences only grew as the competition got intense. He described their personalities as completely opposite, Gaurav being composed, while Nikki is filled with energy and emotion. He shared that both are extremely competitive, which only added fuel to their frequent disagreements.
Referring to one of their major fights, he said, “Haan Unn dono ka bahot jhagda hua. Puri bhaji par itna jhagda hua.” The chaos over a simple vegetable dish turned into a full-blown argument. Rajiv compared the atmosphere on set to Bigg Boss, mentioning how seeing each other every day inevitably leads to friction. Despite the arguments, Rajiv clarified that they are on talking terms and everything has settled down now. He said, “Yes Abhi sab theek hai.”
He went on to add that the drama added spice to the show. Without it, he believed the episodes would have lacked excitement. There were moments, he said, when he simply sat back and enjoyed the show unfold. The kitchen, for him, wasn’t just about recipes and plating, it was a mix of real emotions and entertaining chaos.
Rajiv also didn’t shy away from appreciating Nikki’s skills. Though their interactions were filled with back-and-forths, he recognized her talent. He said that Nikki brought bold flavors to the table. He even gave her a special title, “She is the Thecha queen of the show, harr cheez mein thecha daalti hai.” Despite calling her dramatic, he praised her sweet nature and described her food as full of taste. According to him, her hands have magic, and she always added something special to her dishes. He admitted that if she said one thing, he would reply with three, showing the playful tension between them.
Reflecting on his own journey, Rajiv admitted that the beginning wasn’t easy. The first few weeks were challenging as he tried to understand the technicalities of cooking under pressure. He had to learn how to plate dishes properly and follow recipes, all while racing against the clock. It wasn’t until two weeks in that he finally felt comfortable in the competition. Once he settled in, he began to enjoy the process. He said, “I started to enjoy the show in between when I got set and started to understand things.” Now, as a finalist, he looks back at the journey with pride.
As the finale nears, the kitchen continues to buzz with excitement. With personalities like Nikki, Gaurav, and Rajiv in the mix, the final battle promises to be as flavorful as it is fiery.