MasterChef India Season 7 was one of the most exciting seasons of the popular Indian cooking reality show. The season returned after a three-year break and featured talented home cooks from across the country competing for the prestigious title.
The seventh season aired on Sony Entertainment Television from 2 January 2023 to 31 March 2023, with the grand finale deciding the winner. The show was judged by celebrity chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Garima Arora.
The season winner was Nayanjyoti Saikia, who impressed the judges with his creativity and cooking skills throughout the competition.
MasterChef India Season 7 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Show | MasterChef India |
| Season | Season 7 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Network | Sony Entertainment Television |
| OTT Platform | Sony LIV |
| Release Date | 2 January 2023 |
| Finale Date | 31 March 2023 |
| Total Episodes | 70 |
| Contestants | 16 |
| Winner | Nayanjyoti Saikia |
| Runner-up | Santa Sarmah |
| Second Runner-up | Suvarna Bagul |
| Prize Money | ₹25 Lakh |
MasterChef India Season 7 Judges
Season 7 featured three well-known chefs from the culinary world.
1. Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an internationally famous Indian chef, author, and filmmaker. He has been one of the most consistent judges on MasterChef India and this season marked his sixth consecutive season as a judge.
2. Ranveer Brar
Ranveer Brar is a celebrity chef, restaurateur, and food storyteller known for promoting Indian cuisine globally. His friendly mentorship and deep knowledge of regional food made him a fan favorite judge.
3. Garima Arora
Garima Arora joined the show as a new judge in Season 7. She is famous for becoming the first Indian woman chef to win a Michelin star. Her modern culinary approach added a fresh perspective to the competition.
MasterChef India Season 7 Winner
The winner of MasterChef India 2023 was Nayanjyoti Saikia, a young student from Assam.
He consistently delivered creative dishes that impressed the judges. In the grand finale, his final meal secured him the title.
Prize Details
| Position | Contestant | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Nayanjyoti Saikia | ₹25,00,000 + Trophy |
| Runner-up | Santa Sarmah | ₹5,00,000 |
| Second Runner-up | Suvarna Bagul | ₹5,00,000 |
MasterChef India Season 7 Top 16 Contestants
The competition began with nationwide auditions and thousands of applicants. After multiple rounds, 36 contestants entered the MasterChef kitchen and competed for the Top 16 spots.
Here are the final contestants.
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Profession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nayanjyoti Saikia | 26 | Assam | Student |
| Santa Sarmah | 34 | Assam | Homemaker |
| Suvarna Bagul | 41 | Mumbai | Homemaker |
| Aruna Vijay | 36 | Chennai | Digital Creator |
| Kamaldeep Kaur | 40 | Punjab | Homemaker |
| Gurkirat Singh | 24 | Haryana | Lawyer |
| Sachin Khatwani | 22 | Lucknow | Cloud Kitchen Owner |
| Priyanka Biswas | 32 | Kolkata | Cake Artist |
| Deepa Chauhan | 52 | Bangalore | Entrepreneur |
| Nazia Sultana | 33 | Guwahati | Homemaker |
| Priya Vijan | 34 | Bangalore | Nutritionist |
| Avinash Patnaik | 32 | Odisha | Food Consultant |
| Vineet Yadav | 23 | Lucknow | Mehndi Artist |
| Yashu Verma | 19 | Kolkata | Student |
| Dyuti Banerjee | 32 | Kolkata | Professor |
| Urmila Asher (Baa) | 78 | Mumbai | YouTuber |
MasterChef India Season 7 Format
Like previous seasons, contestants competed in different cooking challenges designed to test their culinary skills.
Major Challenges in the Show
Mystery Box Challenge
Contestants cook using ingredients revealed in a mystery box.
Team Challenge
Participants cook in teams to serve food for large groups.
Pressure Test
Contestants in danger of elimination recreate complex dishes.
Black Apron Challenge
Contestants who perform poorly compete to stay in the competition.
These challenges helped judges evaluate contestants based on:
- Taste
- Presentation
- Creativity
- Technique
- Innovation
MasterChef India Season 7 Finale
The grand finale aired on 31 March 2023.
The final contestants had to prepare a three-course meal, showcasing their best culinary skills.
Finalists
- Nayanjyoti Saikia
- Santa Sarmah
- Suvarna Bagul
- Gurkirat Singh
- Aruna Vijay
- Kamaldeep Kaur
After tasting the final dishes, the judges crowned Nayanjyoti Saikia as the winner.
MasterChef India Season 7 Episodes
Season 7 featured 70 episodes with various culinary challenges.
Some popular episodes included:
| Episode | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | India Ka Swaad | 2 January 2023 |
| Episode 6 | First Challenge for Top 16 | 9 January 2023 |
| Episode 16 | Home Cooks Pohche Goa | 23 January 2023 |
| Episode 31 | Blind Relay Challenge | 13 February 2023 |
| Episode 43 | Holi Special | 1 March 2023 |
| Episode 57 | Biryani Challenge | 21 March 2023 |
| Episode 65 | The Flavorful Finale | 31 March 2023 |
MasterChef India Season 7 Controversies
The season also faced some controversies during its run.
Vegetarian Cooking Debate
Contestant Aruna Vijay, who is vegetarian, used paneer instead of fish in one challenge. Some viewers criticized the show for allowing this substitution.
Bias Allegations
Another controversy occurred when Aruna’s dish Appam Stew was selected among the top dishes. Some viewers felt the judges favored certain contestants.
Despite these controversies, the season remained extremely popular among viewers.
MasterChef India Masterclass
After the main season ended, a special spin-off called MasterChef India – Masterclass aired from 2 April to 8 April 2023.
In this show:
- Judges cooked special dishes
- Contestants learned professional techniques
- Viewers learned recipes from expert chefs
Where to Watch MasterChef India Season 7
You can watch the show on:
- Sony Entertainment Television
- Sony LIV (online streaming)
All episodes are available on the Sony LIV platform.
MasterChef India Season 7 Impact
Season 7 became one of the most successful seasons of the show because:
- It returned after a three-year break
- Introduced new judge Garima Arora
- Featured talented home cooks from across India
- Highlighted regional Indian cuisines
The season inspired many young chefs and food lovers to pursue cooking professionally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The winner of Season 7 was Nayanjyoti Saikia from Assam.
The judges were Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Garima Arora.
The show premiered on 2 January 2023.
You can watch it on Sony Entertainment Television or stream it on Sony LIV.
A total of 16 contestants competed in the MasterChef kitchen.
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