Chef Vikas Khanna Recalls the Last Promise Made by His Late Sister Radhika and Her Profound Impact on His Life: Famous Indian chef, Vikas Khanna, recently opened up about a deeply personal promise he made to his late sister, Radhika, that shaped not only his career but also his approach to life. The Michelin-starred chef, known for his culinary prowess and restaurant Bungalow in New York, has often credited Radhika for helping him establish his restaurant. However, it was her teachings, particularly in her final days, that had the most profound impact on him.
In an emotional interview with CNN, Vikas recalled the moment in 2003 when Radhika took him to a luxurious restaurant. Despite their hopes of meeting the chef, they were turned away, as the restaurant’s policy only allowed guests who ordered the “tasting menu” to meet the chef. This incident deeply upset the siblings. Afterward, Vikas cheered up his sister, but she left him with a powerful lesson that would guide his future actions in the culinary world.
Before Radhika passed away, after battling Lupus for many years, she made Vikas promise her something very special. She urged him to never exhibit the same arrogance as that chef who shunned them. Vikas, reflecting on her words, shared how Radhika’s advice altered his perspective on what it meant to run a restaurant. He revealed, “We had great food in that restaurant, but we were made to feel less. ‘Un-restaurant’ yourself. She taught me… not my degrees and my Michelin stars, or what I was wearing on my head… She taught me a whole new perspective on a restaurant.”
Vikas further explained that his sister wanted him to approach every guest as a warm, humble cook, not as a distant chef. Radhika had instilled in him the idea that running a restaurant was not just about business; it was about making a difference in people’s lives, alleviating their pain, and creating an experience that was about much more than food.
The late Radhika’s influence didn’t end with her passing. In his interview, Vikas fondly remembered how she would always celebrate his milestones, calling him “Mera Sher.” He also shared that most of the artwork displayed at Bungalow was personally approved and commissioned by Radhika while she was on her deathbed. Radhika, who was an author, entrepreneur, and fashion designer, passed away in 2022 after a long battle with Lupus.
Reflecting on his journey, Vikas admitted that he was initially unsure about the success of Bungalow. He affectionately refers to the restaurant as his “baby” and expressed his deep emotional connection to it. In the interview, he described Bungalow as having a strong feminine identity: “I have a very clear definition of the gender of this restaurant. This restaurant was born as a female, it will live as a female.”
Vikas also shared an incredibly poignant moment from his final days with Radhika. He recalled being at her bedside in the ICU, knowing that her time was near. The nurse informed him that visiting hours no longer applied to him, a phrase that Vikas knew indicated that his sister’s passing was imminent. The emotional weight of that moment, when he realized how little time was left, has stayed with him ever since. He shared, “The nurse told me that visiting hours do not apply to you. It was my biggest fear. When they say visiting hours do not apply to you, it means the patient has few hours or minutes. That was my worst fear, I can’t get over it.”
The promise Vikas made to his late sister continues to resonate with him and influences how he runs his restaurant and interacts with his guests. Her teachings about kindness, humility, and the true meaning of hospitality have not only shaped his culinary career but also his outlook on life. As he continues to honor her memory, Vikas Khanna’s journey remains a testament to the profound impact that love, family, and simple life lessons can have.