For Shazia Khan, it all happened too soon. She finished college, got married and had babies in such quick succession, that it took some time for her to settle down and work out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. So when her friends and family suggested she give Masterchef India 2 a shot, she seized the opportunity and to her surprise fared exceedingly well. Having just launched her debut cookbook, What’s On The Menu barely a week ago, she lets us in on her life on the show, her love for food and more.
“Food was always a focal point in my life. I grew up in a loving joint family and my mother and grandmother would whip up delicious treats when we’d have parties and family gatherings. But I never once imagined that food will one day be my career,” begins the runner up of the series.
A bit of a film buff, Khan counts Salman Khan among her favourite actors and hopes to create an elaborate meal for him someday. “When I’m not cooking, I love watching Salman Khan’s movies. It’s my biggest fantasy to feed Salman,” reveals the chef who now hosts cooking shows and creates YouTube videos for reputed brands. Having finished amongst the top on the food reality show, Khan recounts her experience. “It was life altering. I learnt a lot. After the show I had an identity of my own. I was more than a daughter or a wife or a mother and while I love those roles, it was nice to be seen as someone who had achieved something all by herself,” adds Khan, whose family runs a group of educational institutions in the city and whose father-in-law Rahman Khan, is a member of parliament.
Talking about how the idea for her book came about, she says it was on the advice of chef Vikas Khanna that she took the first step. “I always was keen on bringing out a book. One day, chef Vikas suggested I start on it right away instead of waiting for the right time. And that’s exactly what I did,” says the avid traveller whose favourite destinations include the Middle East and South East Asia.
Currently busy with promoting What’s On The Menu and gearing up for a country wide book tour, she’s looking forward to start working on her next cookbook, an exploration of the Muslim cuisine of the country, expected to be out next year.
