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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 02:21 IST
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Shaam Savera dish rescued Khana Khazana from cancellation and propelled him to fame.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is synonymous with cooking in India, largely due to his significant role in the culinary television show Khana Khazana.
Before making his name in the realm of film direction with Scam 1992, Hansal Mehta’s career took a different route as a computer programmer in Fiji. His return to India marked a pivotal shift that ultimately contributed to the evolution of food programming in the country.
In the early 1990s, Hansal envisioned a cooking show tailored to Indian audiences and pitched the concept to Zee TV. “I proposed a cookery show to them, saying there was a need for such content in India,” he recounted. With the help of Tahir Raj Bhasin’s aunt, he managed to connect with Zee TV’s management, which led to the approval of his show. “Three weeks later, I had two major developments: a green light for my show and a substantial cheque of Rs 36,000, which was notable for that time,” he shared with Pinkvilla.
The pressing question then was who would be the face of the show. During a search for chefs at the Centaur Hotel in Juhu, Hansal encountered Sanjeev Kapoor. “The general manager introduced some chefs to me but not Sanjeev. Just as I was about to leave, he approached me and handed me his card, asking if I needed assistance. I realized he was the perfect fit for my vision,” Hansal recalled.
Despite Hansal’s enthusiasm, Zee TV showed hesitance about Sanjeev. “For several weeks, they repeatedly rejected him, insisting we proceed with a different presenter. I argued that viewers needed someone credible—someone they could trust to recreate these recipes in their own kitchens,” he noted.
On the brink of cancellation, Hansal reached out to Sanjeev. “I informed him about the situation, mentioning ingredients like spinach, paneer, chicken, tomatoes, and onions, and told him it was our last chance to film. I urged him to come up with something special.” In response, Sanjeev crafted a dish titled Shaam Savera, which featured spinach and paneer in a creamy makhani sauce.
The impact of that dish was profound. “After the episode aired, we received an overwhelming number of letters, all praising Sanjeev Kapoor. His creation sparked a culinary craze across the nation. Sanjeev has since been asked to prepare this dish not just for regular viewers but even for dignitaries and world leaders,” Hansal remarked.
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