Most of us might have seen Michelin star Chef Vikas Khanna spreading his infectious smile on a competitive cooking reality TV show. The Punjab-born chef also made headlines when he joined forces to feed thousands of people amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But the world-renowned chef wasn’t born with a silver spoon. He had a humble beginning and it was only after struggling in the streets of New York for years that he made himself a household name.
Hence, when he was recently quizzed in an interview if his ‘sense of hunger’ comes from India, since he’s not from a rich family, he gave a befitting reply, reported The Indian Express.
The video of his interview with BBC World spread like wildfire.
Vikas Khanna, michelin star chef, gives it back to BBC news anchor.
Anchor: In India, you were not from a rich family. So your sense of hunger must have come from there.
Vikas: NO, I am from Amritsar, everyone gets fed there in the langars. My sense of hunger came from New York! pic.twitter.com/u06BJDSzvj— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) June 27, 2020
In the clip, the anchor is seen saying, “You’ve cooked for the Obamas, you’ve been on a TV show with Gordon Ramsay. But it wasn’t always that way, was it? You’re not from a rich family. So, I dare say, you understand how precarious it can be in India?”
To which Vikas replied, “I understand, but my sense of hunger didn’t come from India, but from New York when I was struggling here from the very bottom.”
People loved how humbly he gave it back to the anchor.
Haha this is so apt and hilarious at the same time 😂
— Aditi Mathur Kumar (@adicrazy) June 27, 2020
Bravo, Vikas!! I can hear the echo to that tight slap you gave to the racist BBC.
— The_Seeker (@Saga08120953) June 27, 2020
Absolutely Superb…This one made my day..👌🏻👌🏻🇮🇳🇮🇳
— enn gee ess (@nee_el) June 27, 2020
Befitting reply
— Vipul mishra (@Vipulakmishra) June 27, 2020
— Anaab Shanaab (@Anaab_Shanaab) June 27, 2020
The anchor will remember this! Don’t mess with the spirit of “Indianess”!
— Rachna (@rachmumbai) June 27, 2020
Class from Vikas 👏👏👏
Shame on you @BBCWorld— AB84 🇮🇳 (@badyalarpan) June 27, 2020
Well Done Vikas Paaji…..so proud of you.
— Sinhrann (@sinhrann) June 27, 2020
Very nice response. The entire Khanna clan came from Amritsar.
— Dipiya Dilawari (@Dipdil) June 27, 2020
What an epic kick-ass response
— Meliorism (@Meliorism17) June 27, 2020
He just demonstrated the recipie for "CHUTNEY"!!!🤣
— Vinayak Bhave (@bhave_vinayak) June 27, 2020
Well, it’s true that only an empty stomach knows the pain of hunger, but I don’t think the emotion to help someone always comes from experience. It all depends on your compassion towards others and having a sense of giving. We are proud of you, Chef Vikas Khanna.