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Garima Arora Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth9 November 1988

Age34 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceMumbai

ProfessionChef

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRahul Verma

FamilyParents: Anil Arora and Neetu Arora; Brother: Nauroze Arora

Garima Arora Biography

Garima Arora is an Indian chef from Mumbai who became the first female Indian chef to earn a Michelin star. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu and experienced at N

Early life and background

Garima Arora was born on 9 November 1988 in Mumbai, where she was raised and continues to identify her hometown. She completed undergraduate studies in journalism, earning a Bachelor of Mass Media, before changing course and pursuing professional culinary training. Her formal culinary education includes a grand diploma in cuisine and patisserie from Le Cordon Bleu in France.

Career

Arora began her working life briefly as a journalist, but within a short time shifted her focus fully to the culinary world. After studying in France, she undertook an internship in Dubai at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, then moved to Copenhagen in 2013 to work under René Redzepi at Noma. Those formative positions exposed her to some of the best kitchens in the world and shaped her approach to food.

In 2015 she relocated to Bangkok and worked as a sous chef with Gaggan Anand. Building on those experiences, Arora opened her own restaurant, Gaa, in Bangkok in 2017. Gaa showcased a creative blend of Indian and Thai influences and quickly gained international attention. In 2018 she earned a Michelin star, becoming the first female Indian chef to achieve that honor. The following year she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2019, and her restaurant Gaa made a notable new entry on the list of the world’s 50 best restaurants.

Additional recognition followed in 2022 when she received the Young Chef Award from the MICHELIN Guide Thailand. Arora has also used her platform beyond the kitchen: in 2020 she founded Food Forward India, a nonprofit organization.

Public profile

Arora has taken part in Indian television as a culinary personality. In 2023 she joined the judging panel of MasterChef India Season 7 on Sony TV, becoming the first female chef to serve as a judge on the show. She has also made appearances on other Indian television programs, including talk and reality shows such as The Kapil Sharma Show, Indian Idol Season 13, and Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 14.

Her public persona reflects a mix of professional seriousness and personal tastes; she has described a preference for wine and has shared anecdotes about influences from her childhood. Family has played a role in her path—her father is credited with encouraging her interest in food—and she comes from an Indian-Punjabi background.

Personal life

Garima Arora is married to Rahul Verma, who is identified as a pilot for Jet Airways. Her parents are named Anil and Neetu Arora, and she has a brother named Nauroze Arora. She keeps a dog named Alooji.

Arora’s listed physical characteristics include a height of approximately 170 cm (5'7") and a weight around 60 kg (132 lbs). Her eye color is described as light brown and her hair color as brown. She follows a non-vegetarian diet.

Latest updates

Recent milestones in Arora’s public career include her role as a MasterChef India judge in 2023 and the ongoing recognition her restaurant and culinary work continue to receive. She remains based in or connected with Mumbai by origin and has maintained an active presence in both restaurants and media appearances.

Career highlights

2018: Earned a Michelin star, the first female Indian chef to do so

2019: Named Asia’s Best Female Chef

2022: Young Chef Award from the MICHELIN Guide Thailand

2023: Judge on MasterChef India Season 7
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Recent Work

MasterChef India Season 7 (Judge)

Appeared as a judge on MasterChef India Season 7 alongside Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar; first female chef to judge the show in its history.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. First female Indian chef to earn a Michelin star (2018)
  2. Asia’s Best Female Chef (2019)
  3. Young Chef Award by the MICHELIN Guide Thailand (2022)
  4. Founded nonprofit Food Forward India (2020)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Garima Arora born?

9 November 1988

What is Garima Arora known for?

Chef

What is Garima Arora’s marital status?

Married

Who is Garima Arora married to?

Rahul Verma