MasterChef India 7: Nayanjyoti Saikia from Assam takes home ₹25 lakh prize money, calls his win ‘surreal’

After passing a series of challenges, Nayanjyoti Saikia from Assam became the winner of MasterChef India season 7. After nearly three months, the popular cooking reality show’s winner’s name was announced on Friday. Santa Sarmah was declared the first runner-up, Suvarna Bagul was announced the second runner-up. Also read: Vikas Khanna makes a request to Amitabh Bachchan on KBC, says ‘Twitter pe mujhe gaaliyan padti hain’

The final judging was done by well-known chef and TV personality Sanjeev Kapoor, where the contestants had to cook three dishes. Whoever could impress the judges with the taste, presentation and innovation could emerge as the winner of the show. Nayanjyoti, who hails from a small village in Assam’s Tinsukia, was declared the winner.

Nayanjyoti Saikia said to India Today after his win, “I had a simple dream and that was to go to MasterChef India and cook, but now I feel like all my goals in life are complete. I did not only go to MasterChef, but I also got the apron and winning this intense food competition feels surreal! I had my self-doubts, but the three judges motivated us so much, especially Chef Vikas Khanna who has helped me so much since the day of the auditions. The biggest thing is that my father is the happiest of them all; he was against the idea of seeing me cook but today, this achievement makes it all worth it.”

Nayanjyoti’s father had initially opposed his son’s decision of becoming a chef. But when the judges Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar visited Nayanjyoti’s house, his father became a little more confident about Nayanjyoti and his dreams. Vikas Khanna said in the same India Today report about Nayanjyoti, “I still remember the timid Nayanjyoti from Tinsukia, who I went to meet in his house. I was so impressed by his vision and creativity and how he can turn food into art. He inspired me through his social media posts and so I decided that he was the right fit for MasterChef India.”

Season 7 of the Indian competitive reality TV series MasterChef India premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on January 2, 2023. Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar returned as the judges for the show, while Vineet Bhatia was replaced by Garima Arora.