MasterChef India – Telugu (or colloquially MasterChef Telugu) is an Indian Telugu-language competitive cooking reality show. Based on MasterChef Australia and is part of MasterChef India. Produced by Endemol Shine India and co-produced by Innovative film Academy. It started broadcasting on Gemini TV and Sun NXT on 27 August 2021.
The show has 14 contestants, a host, and three chefs as judges. The winner of the show will receive the MasterChef title and the cash award of ₹25,00,000.
In early 2021, Sun TV Network secured the production rights of MasterChef in Telugu. In late June 2021, Tamannaah confirmed her role as host of the show, by sharing a behind-the-scenes picture. The show is planned to have 28 episodes.
An entire set design by Omung Kumar consists of 20 countertops, a pantry. And a balcony was creat in Innovative Film Academy to shoot the show. The makers chose a Multiple-camera setup for the series. The show is directed by Sanjeev K. Kumar and filming began in late June 2021.
Regarding other Indian regional languages, MasterChef was initially adapted in Hindi under the name of MasterChef India. Later adapted to Tamil as MasterChef India – Tamil. In addition, Kannada and Malayalam adaptations were planned.
In August this year, actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who works extensively in the South film industry, announce as the host of the Telugu version of the popular MasterChef series. The show, which went on air on August 27, was judged by Hyderabad chefs Sanjay Thumma, Chalapathi Rao, and Mahesh Padala as judges. The actress who is a self-confessed fan of the series had even expressed her excitement over getting to host the show, which was also her TV debut.
But according to the latest developments, it seems like not all is well between the makers and the host. Tamannaah has decided to take the legal route after the makers cut off all communication with her. The actress’s lawyer informs, “Due to the non-payment of dues on MasterChef Telugu and unprofessional conduct by the production house Innovative Film Academy, Tamannaah Bhatia is being forced to take legal action.
Despite the continuous non-payment and unprofessional approach, she cancelled other commitments and determine to complete the entire project. However, since the production house has overnight stop communication with her, she is now force to consider filing a legal suit against them”.
ETimes was the first to tell that the makers had roped in actress Anasuya Bharadwaj to replace Tamannaah Bhatia as the host of MasterChef Telugu. Back on October 1, Anasuya had already shot for a few episodes at the exclusive set in Innovative Film City in Bengaluru. Anasuya also hosts a comedy show ‘Jabardasth’.