What is the difference between Masterchef Australia (Star World) and Masterchef India (Star Plus), both of which happen to be on the air? Akshay Kumar. What's the difference between the Akshay Kumar of Masterchef India and the Akshay Kumar we saw on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa (Sony)? A smiling Akshay Kumar on Jhalak. In the cookery talent contest he behaves like it's another season of Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi, scowling or scolding. Lines of seriousness crease his forehead and he screws up his mouth as though the dishes he tests have left a bad taste in his mouth.
Gary Mehigan, one of the judge-presenters of the show Down Under, savours his job as much as the food — with pure enjoyment. And that's the difference between the two. In Masterchef India's enormous kitchen (was it once an Airbus hangar?) everyone is sad or angry, disappointed or grave, tense or scared — there's so much negative energy around it's a wonder the food doesn't spoil. Well, it does, of course and that's why there is much heartburn (don't attribute it to the ingredients). The contestants try hard to cook well, the chef-judges Kunal and Ajay try to entice the best out of them with appetising and exotic recipes, Akshay Kumar eggs them on, but no one looks happy with the results. In contrast, Masterchef Australia is full of the lightness of a well-beaten egg white. The participants seem to love what they do; they experience the joy of cooking. One show has the fragrance of freshly-baked bread, the other has something burnin' and it isn't love. Which one would you prefer to watch?
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Debate Mansion
