The pre-finale episode of Celebrity MasterChef brought with it a flood of emotions, heartfelt reunions, and a moment that stood out not for its glamour, but for its genuine warmth. As the top five finalists, Tejasswi Prakash, Nikki Tamboli, Gaurav Khanna, Faisu, and Rajiv Adatia, were joined by their families in a surprise segment, love and laughter filled the kitchen.
However, there was one contestant who stood waiting, yet no one walked in for him. Gaurav Khanna, known for his calm presence throughout the show, stood silently as his fellow contestants embraced their family members. His wife, Akanksha, was occupied with her shoot, and his parents were away in Kanpur. For a few seconds, the energy shifted, but what came next changed everything.
The judges called in actor and close friend Hussain Kuwajerwala. The minute Hussain entered the kitchen, Gaurav’s face lit up. His eyes welled up. He rushed toward him, hugging him tightly.
In a voice heavy with nostalgia, Gaurav said, “Yeh meri family hai. When I came to Mumbai toh Hussein ke ghar pe hi rehta tha, khaata tha. My initial was with him.” The room softened. There was laughter, warmth, and the kind of emotion that can’t be scripted.
Hussain responded with humor that had everyone smiling. He teased, “Tune mera bahut namak khaya hai. Now it’s your turn to come to my home and cook for us.” The bond between them felt real-brotherly, deep-rooted, and full of shared memories.
Farah Khan chimed in, remembering her own connection with Hussain. She smiled as she recalled, “I had done Indian Idol with him 20 years back and even now he looks the same.”
The conversation drifted to old stories. Gaurav shared how he first stepped into the television industry. Back then, Hussain played his father on a show. Gaurav was cast as his younger son. Vivan Bhatena played the elder one. It was a leap of time in the show’s plot that introduced Gaurav to the world of acting. He smiled, looking back. He credited Hussain for shaping his skills. He said he had learnt acting from him. Hussain, he added, had even been part of his wedding in Kanpur.
Adding a cheerful update, Hussain revealed something new. He said a restaurant named ‘Khana by Khanna’ was opening in Kanpur. Gaurav’s parents were caught up there, and Akanksha was helping with the interiors. That’s why none of them could make it to the episode.
Then came the final touch to the moment. Chef Ranveer Brar looked on, visibly moved. With a gentle grin, he said, “Father nahi but father figure agaye.” That one line summed up the emotional high of the episode.
For Gaurav, the absence of his immediate family was filled with a presence that meant just as much. In a room filled with spices and sauces, the strongest ingredient that day was love.