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LIFESTYLE INTERVIEW: RONIT ROY

Bollywood, Television Actor Looking Forward to ‘Kitchen Champion’ After First Saying "No"

By: Simran Mody
May 31, 2011

Ronit Roy on 'Kitchen Champion' on Buzzinebollywood.comThe Amitabh Bachchan of the small screen almost walked away from Kitchen Champion, but Bollywood actor and television star Ronit Roy, who nabbed Star Screen and Zee Cine Awards for his role in Udaan, is looking forward to the best of Indian culinary arts as the fourth season of the reality television show returns to the tube. A mainstay on the Indian serial Adaalat and the owner of a security firm who provides protection to the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi, Mr. Roy initially turned down an offer to host the fourth annual installment of Color Television’s Kitchen Champion.

 
After second thought, the Bengali actor who was born in Maharashtra reconsidered his initial answer and ultimately decided to host Kitchen Champion -- a competitive cooking show adjudicated by Chef Gautam Maharshi.
 
“In the beginning, when I was offered Kitchen Champion and I got to know that it was a cookery show, I refused to do it, but Ashwani Yardi, the head of programming at Colors, said that I should at least hear out the concept of the show before making a decision,” Mr. Roy told the press. “When I heard it, it seemed very interesting. Fun, games, and also the show gives me a chance to be myself, so I thought I’ll do it.”
 
As the show’s fourth season heads into its third week, the current installments of Kitchen Champion departed from the vibe and spirit of its first three seasons, focusing on the everyday woman and her experiences in the kitchen.
 
Each of the first three seasons had a different theme, what with television actresses starring on the program in year one, followed by onscreen television couples in the encore season.
 
In 2010, Kitchen Champion featured a battle between two teams of six Bollywood actresses: Hot Chhoriyas versus Kool Kudiyans. Among the actresses battling it out for culinary supremacy were Natasha Sharma, Smita Singh, Avika Gor and Yami Gautam, among others.
 
While each of the four seasons featured a different set of competitors each year, one element that has remained constant was Mr. Roy, who actually hosted the show since its inception in 2008. Even though he changed his mind on whether to return for a fourth season, Mr. Roy told the press no one should expect any alterations to his onscreen personality.
 
“Nothing extra from my side, because my research of the show tells me that my audience likes me the way I am. So I don’t really want to change too much,” he told the media.
 
As for what audiences can expect to see in season four, Mr. Roy said Kitchen Champion has spiced things up a bit this year.
 
“There is a little bit more emphasis on cooking. In games, instead of two, we are doing only one game,” Mr. Roy pointed out to the press. “So understanding the recipes is what is being termed as important now. The cooking segment has become more systematic.”
 
Perhaps the more systematic nature of the cooking segment can help Mr. Roy perfect a few dishes on his own time, or at least become a more efficient chef. Apparently quite the experienced cook, Mr. Roy stated that there are not enough hours in the day for him to take advantage of his own kitchen and culinary skills.
 
“I do know how to cook. I can cook a lot of dishes, but unfortunately I don’t cook now because of unavailability of time. I can cook a varied array of dishes: Indian food, Indian kabobs, Italian food,” Mr. Roy said.
 
Ronit Roy on 'Kitchen Champion' on Buzzinebollywood.comPerhaps the reason he has so little time for the kitchen is because he is über-focused on perfecting his acting and hosting skills.
 
“Neither (acting nor hosting) is easy, and we can’t compare the two things because they are very different from each other. I put as much effort in hosting as I put in playing a character on TV or films,” Mr. Roy -- who has starred in serials such as Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Sarkarr -- candidly told the media.
 
A competitive show airing weekday afternoons on Colors TV, Kitchen Champion is the second reality cooking program on the television network; Mallika-E-Kitchen is the other.
 
One of the show’s biggest draws is its interactive nature. While the competition aspect of the program features reality-based tasks and a healthy dose of comedy, Kitchen Champion does allow viewers to submit recipes through its official website. Even more, Kitchen Champion openly advertises the ingredients and cooking methods used in preparing each dish, allowing viewers to learn new recipes while enjoying some competitive drama.