The fierce battle between contestants on Celebrity MasterChef has begun, with participants showcasing their culinary skills and winning hearts with their food. First-time Celebrity edition contestants include Tejaaswi Prakash, Dipika Kakkar, Mr. Faisu, Gaurav Khanna and Nikki Tamboli.
The season’s first episode, aired on January 27, saw contestants cooking Brinjal with creative twists. Most impressed judges Farah Khan, Ranveer Brar, and Vikas Khanna with their skills, but Nikki Tamboli’s Brinjal Tacos stood out.
As the best dish, Nikki gained the power to reduce two minutes from the cooking time of any two contestants. When judge Ranveer asked her to choose, one name surprised everyone: Dipika. In a viral fan-edited video, Nikki says, “Main chaahti hu ki unhe do minute late kaam start karne dia jaae” (I want her to start working two minutes late). Dipika was equally shocked, saying, “Maine kya kara hai” (What have I done)?
The video then shows a throwback clip from a previous episode where Dipika helped Nikki with her dish. The background song “Accha Sila Diya Tune Mere Pyaar Ka” takes a humorous dig at Nikki’s unexpected move.
About Celebrity MasterChef
First episode of Celebrity MasterChef has generated significant excitement among fans, who are eagerly anticipating the fun banters, intense competition and revelation of the winner. Viewers can catch the show from Monday to Friday at 8 pm, on Sony Liv and Sony TV.
Besides the fun banters and exciting dishes, another aspect that has piqued the audience’s curiosity is the payment structure for the contestants. While the celebrities have not officially disclosed their fees, a report by Telly Talkies provides insight into the possible payment amounts.
According to the report, Tejasswi Prakash is the highest-paid contestant, earning between Rs3-4 lakhs per week. Following closely behind Tejasswi is Gaurav Khanna, a well-known Indian television actor. Gaurav reportedly earns ₹2.5 lakhs per week for his participation in Celebrity MasterChef. Deepika Kakkar is reportedly earning between ₹2 lakhs to ₹3 lakhs.
In addition to the top earners, the remaining contestants are also receiving substantial compensation for their participation in Celebrity MasterChef, according to reports. Nikki Tamboli, who gained widespread recognition after appearing in Bigg Boss 18 and Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, is reportedly earning around ₹1.5 lakhs per week. Rajiv Adatia, known for his stint in Bigg Boss 15, is receiving Rs 1 lakh.
Archana is being paid Rs 1.5 lakhs, while Usha Nadkarni and Manini Dey are each earning approximately Rs 1 lakh for their participation in the show. Social media influencer and Khatron Ke Khiladi participant Mr Faisu is taking home Rs 2 Lakhs every week for the show.
