Renowned Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor recently revealed that he was initially dropped from the first season of MasterChef India due to a salary demand that exceeded that of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who was signed as a judge. During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Kapoor expressed his surprise upon learning he had been sidelined, despite his prominence in the culinary world. He maintained that he would only join the show if he received Re 1 more than Kumar's fee, a demand that left the producers stunned. Although he did not participate in the first season, the show's makers eventually returned to him, leading to his involvement starting from the second season. Kapoor emphasized his respect for Kumar, calling him a dear friend and a brilliant professional. Over the years, MasterChef India has evolved, with Kapoor becoming a significant figure in the show's history after his eventual inclusion.