Chef Sanjyot Keer's Full-Circle Return to MasterChef India

In a meaningful full-circle moment, Chef Sanjyot Keer, Founder of YourFoodLab, returned to the MasterChef India kitchen, this time not behind the camera, but right at the centre of it.

On 6 February 2026, Chef Sanjyot appeared on the iconic MasterChef set as a Special Judge and Episode Host, leading a high-stakes elimination round. What made the moment stand out was not just the role he played, but the journey that brought him back.

Back in 2014, Sanjyot was part of the MasterChef India production team, working quietly behind the scenes and learning how the show came together, from the pressure of the kitchen to the art of storytelling. Those early days would go on to shape his path in ways he couldn't have imagined at the time.

Inspired by his experience on the show, he launched YourFoodLab in April 2016, stepping into content creation at a time when India's creator economy was still finding its feet. Nearly a decade later, YourFoodLab has grown into one of India's most influential digital-first culinary platforms, known for its strong community and original food-led ideas that blend learning, entertainment, and culture.

One of the key moments of his return was the inclusion of his popular format Cook-Along with Sanjyot Keer on MasterChef India, a format that was brought onto the show at the request of the producers. Known for featuring a mix of global and Indian personalities, the format saw Sanjyot not only judging, but also cooking alongside contestants and guiding the flow of the episode.

From once working behind the camera to leading the MasterChef kitchen, the moment marked more than a personal milestone. It reflected how food content in India is evolving, with creators now stepping into larger storytelling roles across platforms.

Speaking about the experience, Chef Sanjyot said returning to MasterChef felt like “coming home, but with a decade of learning, building, and belief behind me.”