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Pankaj Bhadouria Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth14 July 1971

Age55 years

BirthplaceNew Delhi

ProfessionChef

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseCharu Samarth

FamilyChildren: Siddhant Bhadouria (son), Sonalika Bhadouria (daughter)

Pankaj Bhadouria Biography

Pankaj Bhadouria was born on 14 July 1971 in New Delhi. She completed her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in New Delhi and went on to study at Lucknow University, earning a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in English literature.

Early life and background

Pankaj Bhadouria was born on 14 July 1971 in New Delhi. She completed her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in New Delhi and went on to study at Lucknow University, earning a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in English literature. She also holds a bachelor's degree in education. Cooking entered her life young: both of her parents worked as chefs and she developed an interest in the kitchen from around the age of twelve.

Career

Pankaj began her professional life as an English teacher, spending sixteen years teaching ISC classes at City Montessori School in Lucknow. In 2010 she left that position to take part in the first season of MasterChef India on Star Plus. Her victory on the show brought her into the national spotlight and became the turning point in her career as a culinary professional.

Following MasterChef, Pankaj moved into television and publishing. She hosted several cooking shows including Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka on Star Plus, Kifayati Kitchen and 3 Course with Pankaj on Zee Khana Khazana, Rasoi se- Pankaj Bhadouria ke Saath on ETV, and Sales Ka Baazigar on ETV. In 2011 she released the MasterChef India cookbook, the first cookbook associated with that edition of the show, and later published other titles including Barbie- I am a Chef, Chicken from my Kitchen, and The Secret’s in the Spice Mix.

Pankaj expanded her activities beyond media. In August 2012 she opened a culinary academy in Lucknow offering professional and certificate courses. She also launched and ran two cafes in Lucknow, Tramp Tree Cafe and Cafe by Default. Her public-facing work has included appearances in advertisements for several brands and participation in speaking events such as TEDx seminars and youth forums.

Awards and recognition

Since her MasterChef win Pankaj has received a number of honours. In 2011 she delivered a lecture on Indian cuisines at Cambridge University and released the official MasterChef India cookbook. Later recognitions include the Outlook Social Media Kitchen Queen of the Year Award (2016), Chef of the Year Award by Right Choice (2016), and mentions in media lists recognizing successful reality-show alumni. In 2018 she was honoured with a recognition titled ‘First Ladies’ by the President of India. In 2021 she received the Impact 2021 prize from Dainik Jagran and the Mission Shakti Award presented by the Uttar Pradesh government together with Femina. She also serves as an ambassador for the Olive Oil Revolution campaign promoting olive oil in India.

Public profile

Pankaj has maintained a visible public profile through television, print and digital media. She has appeared in commercials for brands including Knorr, Taaza Tea, Eastern Masala, Samsung Smart Oven, Kent appliances, Sensodyne, Reliance Fresh, Kelloggs, and Tefal. Her social media activity frequently features the dishes she prepares and photographs of her dogs. She has discussed topics such as the rise of women in professional cooking, the role of family support in her career, and maintaining fitness and weight control through regular workouts. She has also been involved in social initiatives, such as skill-development training for children at a railway station.

Personal life

Pankaj is married to Charu Samarth; the couple married on 25 April 1995 and have two children, a son named Siddhant and a daughter named Sonalika. She is a non-vegetarian and lists khichdi among her favourite foods. Her favourite films span Indian and international titles, and she has cited The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho as a preferred book. Personal interests include travelling and dancing.

Latest updates

Pankaj continues to run culinary ventures and take part in public engagements. Her academy in Lucknow remains part of her educational work, and she remains active in brand collaborations, media projects and speaking events. She has been recognised in recent years with awards for her impact and contributions to the culinary field, and she continues to promote cooking and food education through workshops, television and social media.

Editorial Review and Sources

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Recent Work

Opened culinary academy in Lucknow

Launched a culinary academy offering professional and certificate courses in August 2012.

2012
MasterChef India cookbook

Authored the official MasterChef India cookbook released in 2011, followed by additional cookbooks.

2011
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Career Highlights

  1. Winner of MasterChef India Season 1 (2010)
  2. Hosted multiple television cooking shows across Star Plus, Zee Khana Khazana and ETV
  3. Published the MasterChef India cookbook and several other cookbooks
  4. Opened a culinary academy in Lucknow (2012)
  5. Brand ambassador for the Olive Oil Revolution campaign in India
  6. Recipient of multiple awards including Outlook Social Media Kitchen Queen of the Year (2016) and Mission Shakti Award (2021)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pankaj Bhadouria born?

Pankaj Bhadouria was born on 14 July 1971.

What is Pankaj Bhadouria known for?

Pankaj Bhadouria is known for chef.

What is Pankaj Bhadouria’s marital status?

Pankaj Bhadouria's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Pankaj Bhadouria married to?

Pankaj Bhadouria is publicly listed as married to Charu Samarth.