There was a time when Ranveer Brar found himself at rock bottom — bankrupt, homeless, and battling depression in the United States after his restaurant shut down. Today, he stands as one of India’s most beloved chefs, but the road to success was anything but smooth.
Born in Lucknow, Ranveer’s love for cooking began as a child, helping his grandmother in the kitchen. By the age of 13, he was cooking sweet rice at local Gurudwaras and assisting a kebab master, but when he decided to make cooking his career, his family wasn’t supportive.
Undeterred, he threw himself into his work, taking up odd jobs in Lucknow and Prayagraj to pursue his passion. “It all began in Lucknow; its streets, culture, and aroma made me fall in love with food! Cooking in the Gurudwara paved the way for me to find my calling. Back then, it wasn’t considered a ‘secure’ profession. My family opposed it. But I just listened to my inner voice and decided to become a chef,” he said. His perseverance paid off when he became India’s youngest executive chef at the age of 25.
However, life took a sharp turn when Ranveer moved to the US to open his first restaurant, which ultimately failed, leaving him bankrupt and homeless. Despite the darkness of this period, Ranveer refused to give up. With sheer determination, he bounced back, opening new restaurants across the United States and Canada.
In 2012, his father’s cancer diagnosis brought Ranveer back to India. It was here that he found a new path — hosting cooking shows, which led him to become a household name as a judge on MasterChef India. His love for storytelling through food deepened, and his journey has now taken him into the world of acting, sharing the screen with Kareena Kapoor in Buckingham Murders.
From a young boy in Lucknow’s bylanes to a celebrated chef and TV star, Ranveer Brar’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how tough the road gets, passion and perseverance will always light the way.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
