Key Highlights:

  • Samantha Ruth Prabhu, currently in her seventh month of pregnancy, has begun shooting for "Celebrity MasterChef Tamil" in Chennai.
  • She said the show was "unlike anything" she'd done before, expressing excitement to see Tamil celebrities step into the kitchen.
  • MasterChef Australia winner Sashi Cheliah has joined as a judge, bringing his journey from the Singapore Police Force to the culinary world.
  • Produced by Banijay Asia, the show follows the popular MasterChef format with a distinct local twist.
  • "Celebrity MasterChef Tamil" is set to premiere on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV.

A New Culinary Venture During a Special Phase

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who is expecting her first child, has started shooting for the much-awaited culinary reality show "Celebrity MasterChef Tamil." A source close to the development revealed to IANS that the "Oo Antava" actress has travelled to Chennai to kick-start the shoot, marking a notable professional commitment during this significant personal milestone in her life.

Continuing to Work During Pregnancy

While further details about the show and Samantha's specific role are still awaited, fans are looking forward to watching the actress take on this new challenge. Samantha, who is reportedly in her seventh month of pregnancy, has continued to work through this phase, reflecting a decision to remain professionally active even as she prepares for motherhood.

Samantha's Excitement About the Show

Samantha had earlier shared her enthusiasm about the new venture, noting that food has a unique way of bringing people closer together. "I'm incredibly excited to finally share this with everyone. Celebrity MasterChef Tamil is unlike anything I've done before, and that's exactly what made it impossible to say no. Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together, creating memories, and revealing a side of you that the cameras don't usually get to see," she said.

Anticipation for Celebrity Contestants

The "Yashoda" actress also expressed particular anticipation about watching familiar faces from the Tamil film industry take on the challenge of cooking under pressure. "What I'm most excited about is watching some of our favourite Tamil celebrities step into the kitchen, take risks, make mistakes, surprise themselves, and compete with a lot more passion than you'd expect! I wish I could tell you who's cooking, but where's the fun in that? I can't wait for everyone to experience what we're cooking up with Sony Vizha," she added, keeping the identity of the celebrity contestants under wraps to build anticipation ahead of the show's release.

A Judge With an Unconventional Journey

Chef Sashi Cheliah, the winner of MasterChef Australia, has joined "Celebrity MasterChef Tamil" as a judge, bringing with him a notably unconventional path into the culinary world. His journey began after working with the Singapore Police Force, before he went on to make his mark by winning MasterChef Australia, a transition that adds a distinctive personal narrative to his role on the show.

Sashi Cheliah on His Path to the Kitchen

Speaking about joining the show, Sashi Cheliah reflected on how unexpected his culinary career had been. "My journey to the MasterChef kitchen was anything but conventional. I began my career in the Singapore Police Force, so the thought of one day stepping into the MasterChef Australia kitchen and eventually winning the trophy was something I could never have imagined."

Food as a Storyteller of Identity

He elaborated further on how his cultural background shaped his culinary journey. "Indian and Southeast Asian flavors that shaped my childhood and my culinary identity became an integral part of that journey and reminded me of the power of food to tell stories about who we are and where we come from. Coming to Celebrity MasterChef Tamil as a judge feels incredibly special because I know exactly what it is like to stand on the other side of the kitchen, the nerves, the pressure, the uncertainty, but also the incredible excitement of creating something you are proud of."

The Format and Production Behind the Show

Produced by Banijay Asia, "Celebrity MasterChef Tamil" will follow the format of the internationally popular MasterChef franchise while incorporating a distinct local touch tailored to Tamil audiences and culinary traditions. The show will feature well-known personalities from the Tamil film industry competing in the kitchen, bringing the celebrity cooking competition format to a regional audience.

When and Where to Watch

The culinary reality show is expected to premiere soon on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV, giving audiences access to the format both through television broadcast and streaming.

Samantha's Personal Journey Ahead

Meanwhile, Samantha is preparing to embrace motherhood as she awaits the arrival of her first child with filmmaker husband Raj Nidimoru, adding a deeply personal dimension to this latest professional venture as she balances her career with this upcoming new chapter in her life.