Chef Vikas Khanna Defends Gauri Khan’s Torii Restaurant Amid ‘Faux Paneer’ Controversy
Mumbai, India – April 20, 2025
Movie star chef Vikas Khanna has publicly defended Gauri Khan’s upscale Mumbai restaurant, Torii, after a social media influencer accused it of serving “pretend paneer.” The controversy, which erupted when YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva posted a now-deleted video claiming Torii’s paneer contained starch, prompted a swift response from each Khanna and the restaurant’s administration, highlighting the hazards of misinformation within the digital age.
On April 17, Sachdeva shared a video on Instagram, conducting an iodine tincture take a look at on paneer from Torii, a pan-Asian eatery in Bandra owned by Gauri Khan, spouse of Bollywood famous person Shah Rukh Khan. The take a look at, which detects starch by turning blue-black, led Sachdeva to declare, “Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha” (The paneer at Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is pretend), surprising his over two million followers. He in contrast Torii’s paneer to that of different celebrity-owned eating places, like Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune and Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, the place the take a look at confirmed no starch.
Torii’s official Instagram account rapidly clarified, stating, “The iodine take a look at displays the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. Because the dish accommodates soy-based elements, this response is anticipated. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our elements at Torii.”
Khanna, a Michelin-starred chef and choose on MasterChef India, took to Instagram Tales on April 18 to slam Sachdeva’s claims as “horrible misinformation.” He defined that iodine reacts with starch-containing elements like potatoes, rice, or cornstarch, and such reactions can happen as a result of cross-contamination or soy-based elements. “I’ve been cooking & working with the science of meals for many years,” Khanna wrote. “It’s scary that unqualified persons are taken critically.” He tagged Sachdeva and Torii, emphasizing the necessity for correct meals science data.
The influencer’s video, which additionally examined paneer at Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else, was faraway from Instagram and YouTube following Torii’s response. Sachdeva cheekily commented, “So am I banned now? btw ur meals is wonderful,” however the incident sparked debate on X, with customers like @narendra_nverma suggesting Torii ship paneer samples to labs for testing to quell doubts. @News18Showsha amplified Khanna’s protection, framing it as a stand in opposition to misinformation.
Gauri Khan, a famend inside designer and entrepreneur, has not personally addressed the controversy. Torii, an 82-seater identified for its luxe ambiance and movie star clientele, continues to function as a well-liked eating spot in Mumbai. Khanna’s help underscores his dedication to culinary integrity, drawing on his world fame from eating places like Bungalow in New York, which lately earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award.
The incident highlights the ability and pitfalls of social media, the place unverified claims can tarnish reputations but in addition immediate fast corrections from trade specialists like Khanna. As one X person famous, “Vikas Khanna calling out pretend information with details is why he’s a legend.” For now, Torii and Khanna have put the “pretend paneer” controversy to relaxation, however the episode serves as a reminder to query sensationalized claims.
Sources: News18, Free Press Journal, Occasions Now, Zee Information, X posts
