Mumbai: Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has travelled to Chennai and begun shooting for the much-awaited culinary reality show Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, marking a new professional venture for the actor.
A source close to the development told IANS that Samantha has reached Chennai to kick-start the shoot. Further details about the format and her exact role in the show are awaited, but her association with the programme has already generated interest among fans.
Samantha takes on a new challenge
Samantha, who is expecting her first child, has continued with her professional commitments during this phase of her life. The actress had earlier spoken about her excitement over joining Celebrity MasterChef Tamil and described the show as a project unlike anything she had done before.
According to Samantha, food has a special ability to bring people together while also creating memories and revealing aspects of a person’s personality that may not always be visible on camera.
“I’m incredibly excited to finally share this with everyone. Celebrity MasterChef Tamil is unlike anything I’ve done before, and that’s exactly what made it impossible to say no,” Samantha said while speaking about the show.
She added that she was particularly looking forward to seeing popular Tamil celebrities enter the kitchen, experiment with food and compete against one another.
“What I’m most excited about is watching some of our favourite Tamil celebrities step into the kitchen, take risks, make mistakes, surprise themselves, and compete with a lot more passion than you’d expect,” she said.
Samantha also teased the participation of several familiar faces from the Tamil film industry, choosing not to reveal their identities ahead of the show’s launch.
“I wish I could tell you who’s cooking, but where’s the fun in that?” she added.
MasterChef Australia winner Sashi Cheliah joins as judge
Chef Sashi Cheliah, who won MasterChef Australia, has joined Celebrity MasterChef Tamil as one of its judges.
Cheliah’s journey into the culinary world was unconventional. He began his career with the Singapore Police Force before eventually entering the MasterChef Australia kitchen and going on to win the competition.
Speaking about his association with the Tamil version of the franchise, Cheliah recalled how his childhood and culinary identity were shaped by Indian and Southeast Asian flavours.
“My journey to the MasterChef kitchen was anything but conventional. I began my career in the Singapore Police Force, so the thought of one day stepping into the MasterChef Australia kitchen and eventually winning the trophy was something I could never have imagined,” he said.
Cheliah said his culinary journey reinforced his belief in the ability of food to tell stories about people’s identities and origins.
He described joining Celebrity MasterChef Tamil as a judge as a special experience because he understands the emotions contestants go through inside the kitchen.
“I know exactly what it is like to stand on the other side of the kitchen — the nerves, the pressure, the uncertainty, but also the incredible excitement of creating something you are proud of,” he said.
Tamil celebrities to compete in the kitchen
Produced by Banijay Asia, Celebrity MasterChef Tamil will follow the format of the internationally popular MasterChef franchise while incorporating a distinct Tamil flavour.
The show will bring together well-known personalities from the Tamil film industry, who will compete in a series of culinary challenges.
The contestants are expected to face cooking tasks that will test their creativity, technique and ability to perform under pressure.
The programme is set to premiere on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV, with the official premiere date yet to be announced.
Samantha balances work and motherhood
Samantha’s participation in the culinary reality show comes as she prepares to embrace motherhood. The actress is expecting her first child with filmmaker husband Raj Nidimoru.
Her decision to continue working during this period has also added interest to her latest project, particularly as Celebrity MasterChef Tamil marks her entry into a reality television format centred on food and celebrity personalities.
With Samantha beginning the shoot in Chennai and Sashi Cheliah joining the show as a judge, Celebrity MasterChef Tamil is expected to bring together popular names from the entertainment industry and the culinary world when it premieres on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV.