Who will be eliminated in Big Boss 5 on 19th November ?

Bigg Boss 5 in 2011 is the fifth season of the Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss, which will be aired on Colors from October 2, 2011 to 7 January 2012 with Sanjay Dutt as the host.

Big Boss 5, the extreme reality show is gaining high TRP's and is one of the most watched show in Indian television.

The last elimination we saw was Mandeep Bevli out of the four nominated contestants i.e. Amar Upadhyay,Pooja Mishra , Mandeep Bevli and Mahek Chahal.

This time I think either Mahek Chahal or Akashdeep Saigal a.k.a Skie will be eliminated.

Kaun Banega Crorepati's rags to riches story: the man who won Rs 5 cr

Sushil Kumar, the first person to win Rs 5 crore on KBC till date, remembers how he didn't have TV when KBC started and used to sneak into his neighbour's house to catch the show.

27-year-old Sushil Kumar from Motihari district of Bihar is the first claimant of Rs 5 crore prize money on the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. The humble guy, who worked as a computer operator in government's Mahatma Gandhi Scheme before he appeared on the show, admits that he had never imagined he would reach the final question on KBC.

"I used to test my knowledge by mock-playing KBC while watching it on TV and would usually answer questions till around Rs 25 lakhs to maximum Rs 50 lakhs on my own merit. So when on the show, I assumed to win not beyond that amount", says Sushil.

Like most television viewers, even Sushil Kumar has been an avid fan of Kaun Banega Crorepati since 11 years. "In fact when KBC started, I didn't have TV at my home so I would often watch the show at my neighbour's house. The city roads used to literally go blank when KBC was aired on TV".

Since Sushil never imagined he would win this kind of amount, he is still clueless on what he would be doing with the entire prize money. "I have no idea. The only thing I am certain about is that I will quit my current job and relocate to Delhi where I shall pursue my studies for IAS".

His knowledge of competitive exams helped him considerably in playing the game so well. "KBC has a balanced mix of questions on current affairs and general knowledge. So I used to keep myself updated with magazine and newspapers". It's certainly not an accidental win for Sushil Kumar who had two lifelines ('phone a friend' and 'double dip') unused at the 5 crore question. "Though I had a fair idea of the answer to the final question (since I had read about it while preparing for my exams), when it's a question of Rs 5 crores, you start doubting yourself. So I used both my lifelines and came clear", smiles Sushil.

Ask him what was his reaction on winning and Sushil says, "I was so excited that I started shouting and my happiness knew no bounds. In fact I was so overwhelmed at that moment that I can't clearly remember what I did".

Like any other contestant, Sushil holds host Amitabh Bachchan in high regards. "Anyone who has keenly followed KBC would vouch for the fact that Amitabh Bachchan treats every contestant with the same respect and dignity, irrespective of their social or economical backgrounds. He inspires and encourages everyone without any kind of discrimination. He treated me with the same level of love and respect and when I won 5 crores, he hugged me like an elder brother".

Finally does he see the attitude of society changing towards him with his historic win? "I am sensing that. People who never used to give me a second glance are now claiming, back in my hometown, that they are my best friends. They are giving interviews in newspapers of how well they know me. Certainly life has changed", says Sushil who is having the last laugh.

Sony unveils two fiction shows to replace KBC 5

Sony Entertainment Television (Set) has unveiled new fiction programming that will come into effect once the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati ends on 17 November.

The two shows, Dekha Ek Khwaab and Parwarish, will start running from 21 November.

Taking an unconventional step, Sony has decided to stretch its two fiction shows to 45 minutes, rather than the usual 30-minute episodes. However, Set senior EVP and business head Sneha Rajani said that this is a "short term strategy".

Starting 21 November, the existing 8 pm show Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge will continue till 8.45 pm and will be followed by Dekha Ek Khwab, which will end at 9.30 pm. Meanwhile, Parwarish will air at the 9.30-10 pm band.
"We have decided to air Kuchh Toh… and Dekha Ek… for 45 minutes each as per our strategy. This will help in building up our fiction. It is obvious that post KBC, there will be a GRP drop and we are aware of that," Rajani said.
Rajani added that the channel will not launch any big-ticket reality show in the near future and the focus will be on fiction shows.

15 fun facts about Chef Vikas Khanna

15 facts you didn’t know about MasterChef  judge Vikas Khanna

1. Vikas Khanna is an award winning, Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India. He is based in New York City.

2. Vikas Khanna was raised in Amritsar, India where he grew up surrounded by large family feasts, the seasonal produce fresh from the fields of Punjab, and of course, his Grandmother’s traditional home cooking. It was at his grandmother’s side that he began to learn the intricacies of Indian cuisine.

3. He started his own banquet and catering business, Lawrence Gardens, at the age of 17.

4. During his graduation from the prestigious Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Vikas went on to train under renowned chefs of Taj Group of Hotels, Oberois, Leela Group, and many more.

5. He has studied at the Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University and New York University and the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.

6. He has authored several books, including “The Spice Story of India” and “Modern Indian Cooking”. His next book, “Flavors First”, published in 2011 by Lake Isle Press.

7. He is the founder of Cooking for Life and SAKIV Organizations which hosts gastronomic events around the world in support of different relief efforts and awareness issues.

8. The documentary series Holy Kitchens is based on his journey of discovering the spiritual foods that give us shared identity. The first part of the series is based on Sikhism.

9. Vikas was awarded a Michelin Star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin Guide.

10. In 2011, Vikas was honored with the Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.

11. On March 29, 2011, Vikas received a raving review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times. Vikas was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by Eater.

12. On July 29, 2011, Vikas hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities Conference held at the White House organized by Anju Bhargava, who is a member of President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership.

13. Vikas was featured in the Top Sexy and Successful list of Anokhi Magazine in their 5th Anniversary Issue. Metro New York featured Khanna as Hottest Chef Around.
Khanna has received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from Just One Break, Inc. previously received by Christopher Reeve and Ray Charles.

14. He has also received a proclamation from the Council of the City of New York for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1 and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1..

15. In 2011, Vikas will host the TV Show MasterChef India, an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef, to be telecast on Star Plus.
In September 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the consultant chef on the Gordon Ramsay TV show Kitchen Nightmares on Fox. On October 13, 2009, Khanna appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen. On June 23, 2010, Khanna appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as a judge. Vikas Khanna was guest chef in the episode "The India Show" on The Martha Stewart Show telecast on March 4, 2011.

Meet the Zaykebaaz - Devika Narula

Age: 20
City: Delhi
Occupation: Student
Proficiency: Veg & Non-Veg

20 year old Devika is a single student from Delhi with a zest for cooking. Totally confident, this young girl wants to prove herself with her abilities and talent to her family and the world. Hailing from a rich family, she wants to establish her identity, earn the right to be a called a good cook and explore her skills as well. Persistent, Devika tried last year too but wasn’t selected. This season, she is mighty excited to be on the show.

“My sister has created a career for herself by opening her own clothes store but I am still in the process of finding myself.” She wants to explore her capabilities as a chef and is inspired by her mother to a certain extent regarding cooking. She is extremely proud of cooking ‘no-bake’ cheese cakes as they are lighter.

Meet the Zaykebaaz - Joseph Rozario

Age: 25
City: Siliguri
Occupation: Taekwondo professional
Proficiency: Veg & Non-Veg
Shy, cute and sweet Joseph is inspired by his father’s struggle as a cook and he wants to showcase his talent on a big platform & make his dad proud. Joseph is living his dad’s dream and wants to fulfill it, as his own dream in life. “My dad worked hard all his life to take care of us and now it is my turn to give him some happiness. Participating in MasterChef has been a big dream and accomplishment for me.”Joseph is a gold medalist in martial arts, black belt Tae Kwando.

He is very calm, confident & sorted in the kitchen and has a thorough knowledge of his craft. Joseph wants to open his restaurant so that he can make his dad proud. He wants to gift it to his dad & name it Gravecourt of Rozarios. Never having worked with fancy kitchen equipment, Joseph is in awe of most available tools in the kitchen. “We had a makeshift oven at home assembled by hand so it is marvelous to work in such a well equipped kitchen.”

Meet the Judges of Master Chef India 2 !!!

Chef Vikas Khanna

Chef Vikas Khanna grew up in Amritsar and was inspired by his grandmother’s culinary skills. It was at his grandmother’s side that he began his lifelong apprenticeship to learn the intricacies of Indian cuisine. He started his own catering business, Lawrence Gardens, at the age of 17 and the business is thriving till date. Upon his graduation from the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Vikas went on to train under renowned chefs of  Taj Group of Hotels, Oberoi, Leela Group and many more. Vikas is the Executive Chef of the highly regarded Junoon Restaurant, a multi-million dollar project, written about widely by the New York press.  The Cafe Rubin Museum of Himalyan Art with Vikas’s menu has been named the Best Asian restaurant in New York. He has authored several books including The Spice Story of India, Modern Indian Cooking and his latest Flavors First, that released on Aug 15th, 2011.  Vikas, also is the creator of The Holy Kitchens, a series of documentary films that explore sharing food in different faiths. Vikas made his way to the United States and has worked with some of the most honored chefs in America. He has received glowing reviews from the media, his gastronomic peers, and also recognition from the James Beard Foundation.  Richard Gere, Tyra Banks, Sir Salman Rushdie, Harrison Ford, Christina Hendrix, Martha Stewart and ace tennis player Andre Agassi are among the many elite to have dined at Vikas’s restaurants and enjoyed the master’s divinity. In the past, Vikas has cooked for galas and events honoring President Bill Clinton, Madonna and Mohammad Yunus, among others. This year,  July 29, 2011, Vikas has cooked a Saatvik meal for the Dharmic Seva Conference for Hindu American Seva Charities at the White House. Chef Ajay Chopra Chef Ajay Chopra, Executive Chef, The Westin Mumbai Garden City, is that culinary maestro whose culinary genius is known in the country and abroad. He was the co judge along with Akshay Kumar on Master Chef India Season 1. At the Westin Mumbai he is responsible for the food and beverage operations of the hotel which includes" Prego" the finest Italian restaurant in Mumbai , "Kangan" which is acclaimed for its breath taking north west frontier food, "Seasonal Taste" the 24 hour multi cuisine restaurant and a huge banquetting operations. At the Westin Ajay's food phenomenon is relating food to the new world. With contemporary menus and his  love for progressive food he has already made a mark in the food capital of India , "Mumbai". Ajay humbly began his career with the Cecil Oberoi in Shimla and later went on to complete the finest culinary and management training program at the Oberoi Center for Learning and Development (OCLD) and emerged a gold medalist. His first assignment as a chef was  Kandahar, Indian  specialty restaurant at the Oberoi New Delhi where he gave an edge to the Indian cuisine served and savoured by the Delhi Palette. Ajay was also responsible for the hotel’s large banqueting operations as well as the coffee shop. After his stint in Delhi ,Ajay moved to the J.W Marriott in Mumbai as the chef de cuisine of Lotus Cafe, the busiest and the largest coffee shop of Mumbai. Ajay then headed  Saffron at the JW as the chef de cuisine which is a hub of "A" listed bollywood celebrity bellies like Amitabh ji , Akshay kumar, Ajay Devgan, Saif ali khan and many more. After about a ten year stint in India Ajay  decided to venture west and reached London. In London, Ajay was the Executive Head Chef of the acclaimed Mint Leaf chain of restaurants, which was a benchmark in Modern and sophisticated Indian Dining . During his tenure in London Ajay took Mint Leaf to newer culinary  heights in Indian cuisine. Mint Leaf has over the last 7 years enjoyed critical acclaim for its ability to re interpret classic Indian dishes in a contemporary fashion. During his culinary trail in the United Kingdom, Ajay was voted amongst the eight best Indian chefs of London . At his stint at Mayfair he  has brushed shoulders with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Angela Harnet. Ajay is an outgoing and fun loving person; he loves to meet new people. He is greatly committed to taking Indian cuisine into the progressive domain and constantly experiments with new ingredients and flavors. His repertoire of food and his attitude are his strengths. Chef Kunal Kapur Acclaimed amongst the talented flock is the culinary maestro Chef Kunal Kapoor,  who has taken a way forward in managing specialty restaurants  with his passion and flair for cooking.  Chef Kunal (Executive Sous Chef, Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon) is recognised amongst the Best Chefs in India by National Weekly Magazine - India Today. Recently he was adjudged as the “Gourmet Guru” by the Food & Nightlife Magazine, i.e. He has been honored as one of the Top 15 chefs of India. All the restaurants he has managed so far have been successful to evoke the tastes and memories of divine food. It’s an exemplary fact that his last three restaurants (that he managed as the Head chef), have won best restaurant awards in their respective categories. These restaurants are Made in India at Radisson Hotel, Noida, Delhi, Dhaba at the Claridges and Twice at Diya at The Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon. He was also invited as special judge to host an episode of Masterchef America, alongside Legendry Chef Gordon Ramsay. His career high was when Mr. Jiggs Kalra, the Czar of Indian Cuisine anointed him as the “Next Big Guy In Kebabs & Curries in India.” He is the winner of a silver medal at aahar and a bronze medal in HORECA, Kuwait. He is also the proud chef of “DIYA” the speciality Indian restaurant, which has won the Best Indian restaurant twice in a row in Gurgaon and rated amongst the top 5 Indian restaurants in Delhi and Delhi NCR. Chef Kunal also looks after the specialty menu for SPECTRA and Banquet operations. He is a degree holder from the Institute of Hotel Management Chandigarh and started his career from the Taj group of hotels. Having spanned his culinary repertoire in Indian cuisine across banquet operations, theme dinners, outdoor catering, creative menus, buffet set-up, Chef Kunal's credentials are seen in numerous awards and medals he has achieved in a career spanning more than a decade. He has an in-depth understanding of North-West Frontier, Punjabi, Awadhi, Dakshin, Italian, European and Goan cuisines and super specialisation in Indian Curries and Kebabs.  Chef Kunal who is quoted as…. `Rightly dubbed master of what he does’, is passionate about two things - Food & Travel.  He has been a judge cum host along with bollywood actor Akshay kumar, on India’s first reality based food, Masterchef India and has reprised his role as judge in Season 2 of MasterChef India.