New Delhi: MasterChef India has followed the footsteps of MasterChef US and has become the second edition of the franchise to recognise chefs with disabilities. But unlike the US version, where the disabled contestants participated, the initiative at MasterChef India Season 9 was aimed at just celebrating and honouring their talent.
The season, which premiered on 5 January 2026, brings together a diverse group of home cooks who will be vying for the coveted title of India’s best home chef, with celebrity chefs Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar as the judges, along with Kunal Kapoor, who has returned as a judge after four years. The show is available on Sony TV and can also be streamed online on the Sony Liv app.
The story of Ratna Tamang, a Nepalese chef cooking without hands, Manisha Sharma, who was diagnosed with secondary Parkinson’s, and Hussain, who runs his kitchen in Hyderabad from a wheelchair, have received appreciation on social media. They received signed MasterChef India aprons as a token of appreciation for their hard work.
The latest episode featured Sharma for whom cooking is more than just a passion but a method of healing. Sharma revealed that when she was 14 she slipped into a coma and was given heavy medication, after which she was diagnosed with secondary Parkinson’s disease.
“Cooking is like magic for me. If I am told to do something today, it automatically happens in the kitchen. There is no issue,” she said. The judges lauded her journey and recognised her commitment to cooking with a signed apron.
Nepalese chef, Tamang, who lost both his hands in a tragic electric shock accident in 2015, has also gained popularity since coming on the show. Recalling his journey, Tamang revealed that after the accident, he felt he was left with only two options, ending his life or begging for survival, but, he rejected both and chose to rebuild his future by turning to cooking. In his vlogs, he showcases his extraordinary culinary skills.
The judges were initially stunned to see Tamang step into the kitchen, but their surprise quickly transformed into admiration as they watched him cook up close. From finely chopping vegetables to expertly tossing noodles in the pan, his technique left the trio awestruck.
After tasting his dish, chef Brar held Tamang’s amputated hands and said, “Aaj aapne prove kar diya swaad haath mein nahi hota, swaad sapno mein hota hai (Today you proved that the taste is not in the hands but in the dreams).” Brar even awarded him with a special knife.
Social media has already labelled him as a “true hero” and an “inspiration.”
This year, for the first time, contestants will participate in pairs. A total of 12 teams will be shortlisted from across the country, who will compete for the coveted title.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)