Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna is once again in the spotlight, but this time, it’s not just for his culinary brilliance. The Michelin-starred chef has been named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026, marking a powerful milestone in a journey defined by resilience, struggle, and relentless passion. For many, Vikas Khanna is the calm, composed face seen on television.
Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna Among TIME Influential People
But behind that gentle smile lies a story of grit that reads like a film script. Reflecting on his journey, the chef took to social media to revisit his humble beginnings, from selling chole bhature at school in 1989 to building a global culinary empire. He recalled how he and his family knitted hundreds of sweaters to raise just ₹15,000 to start a small business in Amritsar.
Vikas Khanna
Choosing cooking as a profession in the early ’90s wasn’t celebrated, in fact, he faced criticism and humiliation, with only his grandmother standing firmly by his side. Vikas Khanna’s journey wasn’t linear. In 2000, when his banquet business collapsed, he found himself at a breaking point. Determined to rebuild, he moved to the United States, but success didn’t come easy there either.
Vikas Khanna
He shared heartbreaking details of his early days abroad: cooking and selling food on the streets of Tribeca, cleaning homes, and even experiencing homelessness, sleeping at places like Grand Central Terminal and shelters such as NYC Rescue. He also endured racism, recalling being called Curry Boy on public transport. From those difficult beginnings, Vikas Khanna rose to achieve what many chefs only dream of, earning a total of eight Michelin stars across his culinary ventures.
Vikas Khanna
In the world of fine dining, Michelin stars represent the pinnacle of excellence, awarded for outstanding quality, technique, and consistency. His success story is not just about food, it’s about resilience, identity, and the courage to keep going when everything seems lost. Now, with his inclusion in TIME’s prestigious list, Khanna admits he is still processing the magnitude of the moment.