By Monisha G Kumar Last Updated:
Celebrity chef, Ranveer Brar is one of the most loved and followed chefs in India. Host of popular television food shows, author, and judge, Ranveer has set up many restaurants in India and abroad. Born in Lucknow to a Sikh family, Ranveer worked really hard to achieve the success he enjoys now. Life has been a roller coaster ride for him, where he once thought that choosing an ‘unstable’ career was a mistake.
In a conversation with Humans of Bombay, Ranveer Brar talked about his struggle story and how he faced a lot of ups and downs in his professional career. Sharing details about how his love for food began during his childhood days in Lucknow and how he decided to become a chef, Ranveer shared:
“It all began in Lucknow–its streets, culture, & aroma made me fall in love with food! My Dadi’s Chhuri, Munir Chacha’s Kebabs, & cooking in the Gurudwara paved the way for me to find my calling–becoming a restaurants in I! Back then, it wasn’t considered a ‘secure’ profession–my family opposed it. But I just listened to my inner voice & became a chef. My parents weren’t thrilled but said, ‘Khub mehnat karna!’”
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In the same conversation, Ranveer talked about his 18-hour shifts at Taj and how he set up his first restaurant in Boston. In his words:
“And that’s what I did! After graduating, when I landed a job at Taj Palace, between 18-hour shifts & sleepless nights, I put my all in! It paid off when I was promoted to Executive Chef at 25. I went on to open & run a few restaurants in Goa with the Taj group & felt invincible. And then…I took the biggest leap of my life–I moved to Boston & opened my 1st restaurant!”
Ranveer’s restaurant in Boston didn’t work well because of the cultural differences, and soon he had to shut it down, bearing huge financial losses. The celebrity chef, who even went bankrupt, talked about being in denial for a long time and shared:
“The restaurant did well initially, but failing to adapt to the culture, I had to shut it down in 2 years. It broke me–I was bankrupt & on the verge of being homeless. I was in denial for a long time–I didn’t even tell my family about it. The only place I felt safe was the Gurudwara’s kitchen. While cooking langar in its calm, my love for food was reignited; it helped me get through that difficult time. I eventually found a job. But then, Papa got diagnosed with cancer.”
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When Ranveer rushed back to India in fear of losing his father to cancer, his father, who was his pillar of strength, assured him that nothing would happen to him. Ranveer got so inspired by his father's fearlessness that he found the power to start all over again. He went on to host and judge a few cooking shows, opened his own restaurants and did a few TV series and a movie.
Concluding the interview, Ranveer revealed how he once questioned his decision to choose an unstable career when he was on the verge of being homeless. Being proud of his choices, the celebrity chef stated:
“Back when I almost became homeless, I had begun to think that choosing an 'unstable' career was a mistake. But today, I’m proud of my choices, & the roller-coaster that my life has been. Given a chance, I wouldn’t change a single thing–the journey has made me, me.”
Ranveer Brar’s struggle story is inspirational to all those people, who question the uncertain choices they made in life. What do you think? Let us know.
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