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Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Why Indian chefs hide their recipes unlike Western chefs
What's the difference between traditional Indian chefs and top western chefs? I would imagine that there are many differences. But here is the big one: Secrecy. Sharing is not part of the Indian tradition when it comes to professional kitchens. Most great Indian chefs of a certain generation will never reveal their recipes. North Indian and Avadhi chefs are the best example. The most famous Avadhi chef of our times was the late Imtiaz Qureshi. Such was his influence in the decades he spent with ITC hotels that many, if not most, of the Avadhi dishes served at upmarket Indian restaurants (the biryani in particular) here and abroad follow Imtiaz's lead. They are rarely as tasty as Imtiaz's originals because not everyone has his talent. And, most crucially, very few chefs have the real Imtiaz recipes, just approximations or the censored versions he agreed to divulge. Imtiaz believed that secrecy is integral to how Avadhi chefs have always functioned. Very few of them will reveal the exact spice mixes they use. If a hotel asks an Avadhi chef to come in for a festival or a pop up for a few days, the chef will either insist on making his masalas on his own or will come to the kitchen with spice mixes he has prepared earlier. But why single out Avadhi chefs? This is an all India practice. Urbano Rego is the greatest Goan chef of his generation and in the years when he cooked at the Taj Holiday village many young chefs who went on to find fame later worked with him. But most of them, however much they venerate Rego, do not know all the secrets of his recipes. He would always leave one or two crucial details out! It's the same with many chefs in South Indian restaurants. I once shot a TV show at Muthu's, the famous fish head curry restaurant in Singapore's Little India. They proudly told me that a member of the family came in early every morning to mix the masalas because they did not pass on the recipes to the cooks. The tradition is that recipes are held within the family. This ensures employment for future generations and indeed Imtiaz's descendants still dominate the kitchens of Avadhi restaurants outside Lucknow. (Every other Avadhi chef who is not descended from Imtiaz has promptly added Qureshi to his name to give the impression that he has access to the family recipes.) Also Read | The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: How Indian restaurant Tresind Studio won Dubai's first three Michelin stars Obviously, in terms of the development of a cuisine, secrecy is not healthy, but I have some sympathy with chefs who treat recipes as family wealth. Business people create assets which they pass on to future generations. For traditional chefs, the recipes are their assets. Why should they give them away for free? I was thinking of our chefs and their secrecy when I attended a master class by Oriol Castro, chef-owner of Disfrutar, a Barcelona restaurant which is number one on the 50 Best list of the world's top restaurants and has three Michelin stars. Before Disfrutar, Oriol was head chef at El Bulli, the legendary restaurant that re-invented gastronomy. Along with Ferran and Albert Adria, he created many of the techniques that modern chefs now use regularly, often without being aware of their origins. Most great chefs are known for their imagination which allows them to create stunning dishes which they must train their kitchens to faultlessly recreate night after night. There is no modern tradition of recipe secrecy in the West so, if you want to know how, say, Massimo Bottura makes his iconic The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna you can easily find the recipe and Massimo himself will tell you how the dish is put together. If you watch a master class with the average three-star chef, while you will come away marvelling at the chef's genius and skills, you won't necessarily learn very much that you can't find on the net. With technique-based chefs, it's different. If you had worked in the El Bulli kitchen and seen Ferran and Oriol up close, you would have discovered how the new techniques El Bulli popularised should be applied and learned how to incorporate them in your own cooking. (The Adrias taught many of today's great chefs, among them Rene Redzepi of Noma and our very own Gaggan Anand.) When Oriol came to Delhi last week, he demonstrated how to make ten of Disfrutar's most famous dishes. They are great dishes, of course, but what is most significant about them is that they all use techniques that were either created or perfected in the Disfrutar kitchen. Any chef who watched them (and 23 of the Food Superstars list of India's 30 top chefs flew in for the opportunity to learn from Oriol) didn't just learn recipes. They learned about techniques that are still new and unfamiliar in professional kitchens. (The class was free.) The chefs were gobsmacked, of course, but I was intrigued. Why was Oriol giving away the secrets? Wasn't he worried that everyone could now make dishes that were once exclusive to Disfrutar? Short answer: No. He wanted people to learn. I have wondered about that. Perhaps Oriol's willing to share his secrets is part of a western tradition that goes back to centuries ago. The great Auguste Escoffier is best remembered for codifying French cuisine and creating the definitive recipes for every classic dish. He had no interest in secrecy. He wanted to spread knowledge. Similarly, when El Bulli and The Fat Duck revolutionised gastronomy two decades ago neither Ferran Adria or Heston Blumenthal had any interest in secrecy. They wanted to share what they had discovered. People eat triple cooked chips all the time now without caring that Blumenthal invented the technique. Chefs use liquid nitrogen routinely without knowing that it was first used in The Fat Duck's kitchen. Spherication has become a cliche and a new generation of chefs has no clue that it was first perfected at El Bulli. That I think is the biggest difference between how chefs function in the West and in India. They spread knowledge. We hoard it. Whose way is better? Well, on this one, I am on the side of the West.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Not Nargis, Deepika Padukone Was Imtiaz's First Choice For Ranbir's Rockstar; Know Why
Last Updated: On his personal blog in 2019, Imtiaz recalled their first meeting and how convinced he was that Deepika Padukone was perfect for the role of Heer. Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone may have parted ways personally, but their on-screen chemistry continues to be cherished by Bollywood fans. From Bachna Ae Haseeno to Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Tamasha, their pair has delivered hits that left lasting impressions. But did you know that Deepika was also supposed to be Ranbir's 'Heer' in Rockstar? Yes, Imtiaz Ali, who directed the 2011 cult film Rockstar, had originally envisioned Deepika as the female lead. On his personal blog in 2019, Imtiaz recalled their first meeting and how convinced he was that she was perfect for the role. 'She got off the car at the hotel porch and looked at me. I immediately knew that this is the girl I have come to meet. She also immediately knew that I am the director she had come to meet because she had those eyes, that looked as if they know," he wrote. He continued, 'None of Deepika's movies had released till then. I had come to meet her for Rockstar. I wanted her for Rockstar, but the movie did not get made till many years later. I worked with her in other movies. Many things happened over many years at many places, all of which I might forget, but I will never forget the girl who stepped out of the car at the hotel and looked at me as if she knew." Eventually, the role of Heer Kaul went to Nargis Fakhri, who made her debut opposite Ranbir's intense and transformative portrayal of Jordan. Despite criticism of Nargis' inexperience, Rockstar became a landmark film in Ranbir's career and is considered one of his finest performances. As for Deepika and Imtiaz, they went on to collaborate on Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Tamasha (2015). They also worked together on Cocktail (2012), where Imtiaz wrote the screenplay while Homi Adajania directed. Despite missing out on Rockstar, Deepika carved her own space in the industry with powerhouse performances in multiple hits. First Published:
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
DYK: Deepika Padukone was the first choice for THIS Ranbir Kapoor cult classic?
Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor's personal history aside, the two without a doubt, do make one of the most sought-after on-screen couples. And over the years they've done their bit for the audience, leading films Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Tamasha (2015), each quite the blockbuster. That being said, this duo was the OG vision for a fourth film — an Imtiaz Ali directorial. The film in question is none other than 2011 release Rockstar. On his website blog back in 2019, he had revealed how Deepika was actually his first choice for the film's female lead. Excerpts read, "She got off the car at the hotel porch and looked at me. I immediately knew that this is the girl I have come to meet. She also immediately knew that I am the director she had come to meet because she had those eyes, that looked as if they know". Imtiaz continued, "None of Deepika's movies had released till then. I had come to meet her for Rockstar. I wanted her for Rockstar, but the movie did not get made till many years later. I worked with her in other movies. Many things happened over many years at many places, all of which I might forget, but I will never forget the girl who stepped out of the car at the hotel and looked at me as if she knew". The gig of course, eventually went to Nargis Fakhri, who made her debut as Heer Kaul opposite Ranbir's Jordan. Despite fans' persisting reservations about Nargis' lack of exposure in acting potentially taking away from the final impact of the film, Rockstar is still, very much a cult classic and is counted among Ranbir's best performances. As far as Deepika and Imtiaz go, the two have collaborated on multiple occasions through the years — namely in Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Tamasha (2015). The duo have also collaborated on Deepika's breakout film, Cocktail (2012), which was directed by Homi Adajania, though the screenplay was penned by Imtiaz. Coming back to Deepika and Ranbir, would you like to see them on screen once again?
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Imtiaz Ali talks about storytelling journey, the women in his life and more at an event in Kolkata
Imtiaz Ali, during his Kolkata visit, expressed that the city feels like a homecoming, deeply connected to his personal and familial roots. He emphasized that his storytelling journey began with a curiosity about strangers' lives, evolving into filmmaking driven by authenticity. Imtiaz Ali recently attended an event in Kolkata, where he offered profound insights into his creative journey and shared his vision for how storytelling can shape India's future. His compelling reflections captivated the audience, highlighting the enduring power of narrative. A cinematic homecoming: Kolkata's enduring embrace Reflecting on his return to the City of Joy, Imtiaz began on an emotional note sharing, 'Calcutta feels like coming home, a city deeply interwoven with my personal and familial history, and it continues to anchor me both emotionally and creatively.' He spoke candidly about the genesis of his passion for storytelling, adding, 'My journey into storytelling began with an instinctive curiosity about the lives of strangers, fleeting moments that sparked an urge to imagine, to interpret, and eventually to narrate. That impulse matured into filmmaking, a craft I have come to see as governed not by formulas or trends but by authenticity.' The unseen threads in storytelling Imtiaz also highlighted the importance of truth in storytelling, noting, 'When a story arises from a place of truth, it resonates far beyond technique or timing.' He emphasised that filmmaking is not a solitary act but a collective endeavour: 'It is a deeply collaborative process rooted in intuition, listening, and shared vision.' Recounting his earliest creative expressions, the acclaimed director shared, 'As a director, I still carry the spirit of the child who once gathered classmates to stage plays, guided by the need to shape something meaningful from imagination. ' The women who inspire The filmmaker also paid a heartfelt tribute to the women in his life and said, 'The women in my life—my mother, cousins, wife, and daughters—have always inspired me with their complexity and intelligence and portraying them with honesty has never been a conscious agenda but a natural act of reverence.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Bobby Deol lost ‘Jab We Met': Imtiaz Ali revealed waiting two years before casting Shahid Kapoor
Jab We Met may be remembered as one of Bollywood's most beloved romantic dramas, but behind the film's charm lies a story of casting changes, misunderstandings, and creative decisions that shaped its destiny. Imtiaz Ali waited two years for Bobby Deol In a 2023 interview with Lallantop, Imtiaz Ali shared that Bobby Deol was initially set to star in Jab We Met. Being close friends, Imtiaz had planned the project with Bobby and even waited for two years to accommodate the actor's prior commitments. 'I didn't make the film for two years because I wanted Bobby to start it,' Imtiaz revealed. However, after already spending five years working on his debut film Socha Na Tha, and then waiting an additional two years for Bobby, Imtiaz found himself in a financial crunch. Eventually, the delay became untenable. 'He kept postponing my film… a time came when I didn't find it correct. I told Bobby, 'Let's not make this film. Let's shake hands and part ways,'' he explained. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Bobby's Side: 'I Suggested Kareena, Then Got Replaced' In a 2017 interview with HuffPost India, Bobby Deol had alleged that he was sidelined from Jab We Met after recommending both Kareena Kapoor and director Imtiaz Ali to the producers. According to Bobby, the actress, after some initial hesitation, agreed to do the film—but only after six months. Soon after, Bobby found himself out of the project and read in the news that Shahid Kapoor had been cast instead, reportedly due to Kareena's influence at the time. No Hard Feelings, Just Unfinished Business Despite the setback, Bobby has maintained a friendly relationship with Imtiaz. He jokingly remarked, 'Imtiaz, I won't watch any of your films until you make one with me. That'll be your best film.' Meanwhile, Imtiaz continues to praise Bobby and insists the decision was based purely on logistics—not favoritism. On the other hand, Bobby Deol's previous outing was in the Balayya (Nandamuri Balakrishna) starrer action thriller Telugu movie 'Daaku Maharaaj' where he played the role of an antagonist. Anil Kapoor Not Joining Naagzilla Cast Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
