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Sanjeev Kapoor is renowned as a celebrity chef, but many may not recall his participation in the first season of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa.
Sanjeev Kapoor was the guest judge in Celebrity MasterChef recently. (Photo Credits: YouTube)
Renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor recently graced the finale of Celebrity MasterChef of India as a guest judge.The presence of the Khana Khazana host added a touch of prestige and excitement to the cooking reality show. Participants and fans were thrilled to see their favourite master chef at the heart of the much-anticipated finale.
While Kapoor’s presence on cooking shows is well known, many may not recall his unexpected venture into the world of dance. In a recent podcast with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, he opened up about participating as a contestant in the inaugural season of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in 2006.
The Sony Entertainment Television show was inspired by the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities were paired with professional dancers. Notably, Kapoor was paired with choreographer Nicole Alvares.
Kapoor shared, “Someone from Sony came to me and said, ‘We want you for this show.’ I said, ‘I don’t know how to dance.’ They said, ‘That’s exactly why we want you.”
Despite his initial hesitation, Kapoor embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn- since his wife is a big fan of dancing. He surprised fans by swapping his chef’s hat for dancing shoes.
Interestingly, cricket legend Kapil Dev and singer Hariharan were also approached for the show but declined the offer. Kapoor added, “On the day of the announcement, Sony TV had a party at their office, and they invited the media. I went there and saw that everyone else was so accomplished, and I thought, ‘I’m the only one who’s not a dancer.’ I asked the team that what happened to the people you told me were other participants and the others had said no… (laughs)”
Sanjeev was eliminated in the third round. But for someone who always ruled the kitchen, stepping into a dance reality show was like stepping into a battlefield. As a non-dancer, pushing himself through 7-8 hours of grueling rehearsals daily was a bold leap for Sanjeev Kapoor- one that demanded not just stamina, but determination as well.