Full list of the winners of ‘MasterChef India’: From Pankaj Bhadouria to Mohammed Ashiq

‘MasterChef India’ is finally back. It has officially returned with its ninth season. The show premiered on January 5, 2026. The season is hosted by famous chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Kunal Kapoor. This time the show has a twist. The contestants this time will be competing in duos. Before the new season gets intense, let’s have a look at the previous winners of the popular culinary show.

Season 1 of the show was won by Pankaj Bhadouria. Earlier, she was a schoolteacher who quit her 16-year-long job. Pankaj won a cash prize of Rs 1 crore. She is actively involved in culinary education through her Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy in Lucknow. Also, she regularly posts videos on her YouTube channel, ‘MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria.’

Season 2 of the show was won by Shipra Khanna in 2012. She is a single mother from Shimla. Shipra won the cash prize of Rs 1 crore along with other rewards. Later, she hosted a television show as a celebrity chef on Food Food. She also went on to appear in more cooking shows, both in India and overseas. Besides, she also runs her YouTube channel. She hosts podcasts on various topics and shares her recipes.

Season 3 of the show was won by Ripudaman Handa in 2013. He later also participated in ‘Nach Baliye Season 6.’ He hasn't drifted far from food, though. Ripudaman is still very active on social media. He regularly shares recipe videos and cooking tips with his followers on his Instagram handle.

Season 4 of the show was won by Nikita Gandhi in 2015. Since her win, she has taken her love for food international. She works as a content creator. She has also established a business called The Veggie Fix Catering (TVF Catering). She operates this catering service across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the UAE.

Season 5 of the show was won by Kirti Bhoutika in 2016. According to her LinkedIn profile, she creates social media content for various food brands. She also updates her YouTube channel regularly. She also teaches others by hosting online workshops for bakers across India. Plus, she has her own food show called ‘Food Fiesta’ on the channel FoodXP.

Season 6 of the show was won by Abinas Nayak. He has worn many hats since his victory. He is a food consultant, restaurateur, and even a TEDx speaker. He continues to share his knowledge online through his YouTube channel, ‘MasterChef Abinas Nayak.’ It has over 14,000 subscribers. He remains a respected figure in the culinary community.

Season 7 of the show was won by Nayanjyoti Saikia. He hails from Assam. He has kept things simple but effective since the show ended. He focuses on being a content creator and stays consistent with his passion. He regularly shares cooking videos on his YouTube channel. He keeps his fans engaged with his latest recipes and culinary experiments.

Season 8 of the show was won by Mohammed Ashiq. He received a cash prize of 25 lakh rupees, a trophy, and also the Golden Chef Coat. Ashiq opened his own restaurant in late 2025. The restaurant is called Masara, which is in Bangalore.