US visa rejection was not end of career. But beginning of success for celeb chef Saransh Goila

Economic Times

21-04-2025

Saransh Goila's U.S. visa denial in 2011 initially crushed his dreams of culinary stardom. However, this setback led to an unexpected opportunity with Food Food channel in India. Winning the 'Maha Challenge' propelled him to fame, and a year later, he was invited to the U.S., proving that sometimes, rejection can pave the way for greater success.
Renowned culinary expert and television personality Saransh Goila recently opened up about a pivotal turning point in his life — one that began with disappointment but eventually led to triumph
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Renowned culinary expert and television personality Saransh Goila recently opened up about a pivotal turning point in his life — one that began with disappointment but eventually led to triumph. Sharing his journey on Instagram, Goila recounted how being denied a U.S. visa in 2011 unexpectedly altered the course of his career for the better.In June 2011, an eager and hopeful Goila applied for a visa to the United States, hoping to take a leap of faith and pursue his dream in Los Angeles. His goal was to try his luck at the Food Network , blending his passion for cooking with a love for performance. Unfortunately, the embassy denied his request — possibly because he was unemployed and unmarried at the time, he speculated. The rejection hit hard, especially since it followed a string of personal and professional rejections in Mumbai just the year before.'I was ready to spend the last of my savings on this trip,' Goila wrote in his post, recalling how deeply disheartened he felt. He believed the opportunity in the U.S. was his final shot at combining his two passions: culinary arts and entertainment. That visa denial felt like the end of the road.But destiny had other plans. Just a few weeks later, in a surprising turn of events, Food Food, a new Indian culinary TV channel, reached out to Goila for an audition. With nothing left to lose, he showed up — and that moment changed everything.'I was selected to participate in the ' Maha Challenge ,' and life truly flipped,' he reminisced. Not only did he end up winning the competition, but he also had the honor of meeting his idol, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who co-hosted the show alongside Madhuri Dixit.Winning the show elevated Goila's career, positioning him as a rising star in India's culinary scene. And in a poetic twist, just one year after his initial rejection, he was formally invited to the United States — this time, to represent India as a young chef at an international event in 2012.At the visa interview, the officer even expressed surprise that Goila had once been denied. 'I can't imagine why your visa was rejected,' the consulate official reportedly told him, also expressing curiosity about Indian food.Goila now reflects on that initial rejection with gratitude. 'Had I gone to LA in 2011, I might have struggled endlessly,' he shared. 'That 'no' shaped me into who I am today.'His story has since gone viral on Instagram, inspiring others to reframe setbacks as setups for comebacks. Viewers shared their own experiences, resonating with Goila's message of resilience and purpose.