India, June 23 -- Long before he became one of the faces most closely associated with MasterChef India, celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor had actually turned down the show. The reason? He believed that if there was one person who deserved to be paid the most on a cooking competition, it was the chef, not the celebrity guest.

In a recent conversation with Culinary Culture, Sanjeev Kapoor recalled how he initially rejected MasterChef India when the makers approached him for the first season in 2010.

Sanjeev Kapoor's Condition For MasterChef India

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar had been signed as one of the judges alongside chefs Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra. When the makers approached Sanjeev Kapoor, he agreed but attached one condition.

Kapoor...