Master stroke

A gym instructor before he decided to contest on the show,Handa’s enthusiasm for muscle building hasn’t waned in the least. “I’m at the gym from 7 am. Exercising is something I can’t live without and though winning Masterchef has opened up opportunities for me,the gym will always be a big part of my life,” he says,“I also want to get back to studying. I was never interested in general studies; maybe,I’ll go abroad and study food production.”

The boy who grew up in West Delhi — where restaurants and dhabas offer a range of Punjabi delicacies — seemed destined to spend a lot of time cooking,eating and distributing food. The Punjabi staple apart,Handa is enamoured of Continental cuisine,specially Italian.

“Masterchef provided me with wide exposure to the kinds of food from around the world,cooking techniques and cultures. My favourite moment in the show was entering the kitchen for the first time and seeing the judges standing there. I knew that,whatever the result,I would have a great time,” he says.

Though never trained in cooking,Handa enjoyed a fine culinary education under his mother,which stood him in good stead in the show. Handa plans to continue with his passion for feeding people. “I want to open a restaurant. Not a fancy place,but a casual space for people to enjoy good,honest food,” he says.