'I'm still trying to process it': Vikas Khanna reflects on years of struggle after TIME100 honour

Amritsar’s rich culinary legacy has found global recognition as Vikas Khanna, who traces his roots to the holy city, has been named in the TIME100 Most Influential People in the World 2026—a moment being celebrated as a matter of pride for Amritsari cuisine.

Known for taking the flavours of Punjab to international platforms, Khanna’s journey began in the narrow lanes of Amritsar.

Related news: From Golden Temple kitchen to Time 100 list, chef Vikas Khanna narrates his journey

Long before Michelin stars and global fame, he was a young boy selling ‘bhatura chole’ at Vivek Public School in 1989. A year later, he started the Lawrence Garden Banquet from the back of his home, a modest beginning that laid the foundation for an extraordinary culinary career.

Sharing his emotional journey on X, Khanna reflected on the struggles that shaped him. Choosing culinary arts in 1991 was not an easy decision, he recalled, as it was met with disapproval from many, except his grandmother. The path ahead was marked by setbacks, including the demolition of his banquet business in 2000, a turning point that pushed him to move to the United States in search of new opportunities.

From cleaning homes and selling food on the streets of New York City’s TriBeCa to sleeping at Grand Central and facing homelessness, Khanna endured years of hardship. He also recalled facing racial slurs, being called “Curry Boy” during his early days in the city.

“And still, I kept going. From there… 8 Michelin stars. Then losing myself again. Then starting over—one last time as a promise to my sister—with Bungalow,” he said in the post.

Reacting to the TIME100 list, Khanna wrote, “I am still trying to process it. The journey continues.”