If influence had a flavour profile, it would currently taste like slow-cooked lentils and toasted cumin. Vikas Khanna, the chef who famously turned “curry" from a Western cliché into a Michelin-starred masterpiece, has officially been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026.
Joining the ranks of Sundar Pichai, Ranbir Kapoor, Khanna isn’t just representing a kitchen but a culture. Whether he’s feeding millions during a pandemic or making New York’s elite wait months for a table at his new spot, Bungalow, Khanna has proven that the shortest path to global influence is through the stomach.
Khanna had to fight his way into a ‘humble kitchen’. On Instagram, he described his career as a “journey of 41 years of consistency," calling his choice to cook an “act of rebellion." > “Who would have imagined that a boy from the narrow lanes of Amritsar—who struggled to run with other kids, who knew that rolling breads at Golden Temple would lead to the biggest platform in the World… would one day find his name among the world’s most influential voices," Khanna shared on social media.
From selling chole bhature as a “small dream" to his 8-Michelin-star streak, for Khanna kitchen isn’t just about food but storytelling.
Speaking with PTI from New York, Khanna was candid about the grit behind the glamour. He learned of his inclusion on the birthday of his late sister, Radhika Khanna, making the honour feel like a spiritual victory.
“I felt that my sister is still fighting for me from up there. For them to pick up what they call us here, a curry boy and put it in the highest respected list in the world, this is a big deal," he told PTI.
For decades, “curry" was often used in the West as a derogatory term. Khanna has spent his career flipping that script. “They use the word curry in derogatory terms, but I use it with pride. I feel that it’s something which our grandmothers fed us, and our body and brain functions on that," the 54-year-old explained to PTI. “And today, most of the Indians are running the entire world… and now a curry boy gets to be on the stage where just a few selected people on the planet have walked."
In a statement shared with the media, Khanna also added: “Being on the 2026 TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world is a matter of immense pride for me. I owe this recognition to my grandmother, mother, and sister, they always believed in me and it is their sacrifices, blessings, and guidance that has helped me reach where I am today. This achievement is a victory for India and our culinary legacy that is appreciated by people across the world. With this honour, I hope to inspire the people of my country to follow their ambition and represent India on the global stage."
Source: News18