Chef Sanjeev Kapoor says he initially declined to join MasterChef India because of compensation demands. In an interview on Vir Sanghvi’s podcast, Kapoor recounts that he set a firm condition for his fee for the first season: he would accept the role only if his salary was one rupee higher than actor Akshay Kumar’s. He portrays this as a non-negotiable stance tied to how he viewed his professional value.
Kapoor also says his refusal was not limited to a single attempt. According to the accounts, he maintained that position and refused the show multiple times. The producers later approached him again as the show progressed, particularly around the third season, when they faced difficulties with the format. Kapoor says producers then sought his input and ultimately agreed to his terms, acknowledging his contribution.
While the details focus on the one-rupee difference and the timing across seasons, all sources describe the same core incident: Kapoor’s salary condition relative to Akshay Kumar and the eventual agreement after continued negotiations.
