19/08/2025
"Today was a historic day in a billion ways. On this sacred day of India’s Independence, I stood at the NASDAQ Closing Bell Ceremony – a moment I could never have imagined when I first began my journey 26 years ago in New York City." – Vikas Khanna shared on Instagram.
Born in Amritsar with clubfoot, doctors said he may never walk. But his mother believed otherwise: “My son is not born to walk, he is born to fly.” By the age of 13, he was already helping her cook and sell chole bhature outside schools, planting the first seeds of his culinary journey.
Years later, in New York, he worked 31 odd jobs from washing dishes to walking dogs before his passion for food carried him to Michelin stars and global recognition. Over his four-decade-long career, he has earned eight Michelin stars for his fine-dining excellence.
On August 15, he not only rang the NASDAQ Closing Bell but also launched his 39th book, Festivals at the Bungalow.
Inspired by 510 days of festival-themed celebrations at his restaurant Bungalow in New York, the book celebrates India’s traditions, flavors, crafts, and stories that connect us to the world.
From a child once told he might never walk to a celebrated chef who redefined Indian cuisine globally, his story reminds us that dreams rooted in love and culture can carry India onto the world stage.
