04/18/2026
From the narrow lanes of Amritsar
to the world’s most influential list…
Vikas Khanna has just been named in the TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2026.
It’s a story of a boy who was born with a clubfoot, bullied for being “different,” and found comfort not in classrooms, but in a kitchen.
A kitchen where his grandmother’s recipes became his safe space, and his mother’s words — “You are born to fly” — became his belief system.
Years later, that same boy who once sold chole bhature with small dreams is now serving stories on global tables.
A Michelin-star chef.
A storyteller.
A man who didn’t just cook food, he built connections, dignity, and hope through it.
Because for him, food was never just about taste.
It was about humanity.
Even today, his journey isn’t defined by awards, but by the lives he’s touched—feeding millions, uplifting communities, and carrying India’s flavours across borders with pride.
Chef Vikas Khanna
[Vikas Khanna Story, Time 100 Most Influential 2026, Indian Michelin Star Chef, Inspirational Life Journey]