Farah Khan cooks up a storm as she makes her Bolly friends whip up their kitchen specialties in her new TV show Farah Ki Daawat (Sunday at 8pm on Colors). A t2 chat with the director and mom of three on food, family and friends...

How was it shooting for Farah Ki Daawat with all your friends? 

In every episode, there are two to three people. Abhishek (Bachchan) cooked a Dahi Chicken, which was absolutely delicious to eat. He made it himself... without any oil. I had an idea he could cook because he used to cook for me during Happy New Year. He used to say that he had cooked it and brought it, but we were very sceptical whether he had actually made it. The Bigg Boss season 8 contestants cooked very well. Alia (Bhatt) didn’t know how to cook, but I taught her how to make a Thai curry. She was very excited... she learnt a whole dish and went home. There are a lot of people who cook well and for many who can’t, I cook my dish and teach them how to make it. Shah Rukh Khan will come to the show, but in all these years, I have never seen him cook. Then there will be Sonam Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi, Sania Mirza, Karan Johar, Kapil Sharma and many others. 

How often do you cook at home? 

I don’t cook every day as we have a hectic schedule. But I do cook when my friends come over and specially on Sundays, I make special dishes and lemon pie for my children (son Czar and daughters Diva and Anya). When my friends come home, they want to eat my Yakhni Pulao and roast chicken. Thanks to the show, I am now cooking every day and thoroughly enjoying it. 

When you cook, are you as nervous about people’s feedback as you would be for your film’s release? 

For any person who cooks, it is very important that people like their food. I get stressed when guests come over and I get worried what people will say about my food! Yes, it’s almost like my movie is going to release. I immediately come to know if they don’t like it much. I think the fact that friends keep coming back to my house to eat is a compliment in itself.

Have you had any disasters in the kitchen? 

Well, I have had a few. Once I set off the fire alarm in my hotel… all thanks to my cooking! (Laughs)

Does your husband Shirish Kunder help out in the kitchen? 

No, he doesn’t. It may become very dangerous if he enters the kitchen! 

Who are the best cooks in Bollywood? 

Malaika (Arora Khan) cooks well. It is mostly the moms who cook really well. Sonakshi’s (Sinha) mother (Poonam) cooks very well. Salman’s (Khan) mom (Salma) cooks really well. Out of the people who have come on my show, Sonam cooked well and so did Anu Malik. 

What food shows do you watch on TV? 

I love watching food shows. I just finished watching Top Chef. I follow MasterChef Australia and MasterChef US. I like following Rachael Ray and Gordon Ramsay. 

What would Farah Khan order on a date? 

Something non-smelly! So, no adrak (ginger) and no onion. I think one should only stick to chocolate ice cream.  

What’s your comfort food?

Kadhi Chawal and Aloo Ki Bhaji. Whenever I come back home after a long trip, I have to eat it. My favourite dish is biryani that my grandmother used to make for Id.

What’s your staple order at a restaurant? 

It depends on which restaurant we go to. I order dim sums and definitely not chicken because it is cooked every day at home. We prefer having either prawns or lobsters that we don’t regularly make at home. 

Which are your favourite restaurants? 

For Indian, I like Urban Tadka and for Asian cuisine I like Royal China and Yauatcha (all in Mumbai). For Gujarati food, I like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s house! In Calcutta, I love Flurys. I love the mutton cooked in Bengali style. I like Machher Jhol... I stayed in Calcutta for three months while shooting a film when I was a choreographer. Mishti Doi is another favourite. 

IF THESE STARS WERE A DISH, THEY WOULD BE... 

Shah Rukh Khan 

Tandoori Chicken because in all these years, I have seen him eating that only! By now he must have become Tandoori Chicken! He eats that only, day in and day out. 

Abhishek Bachchan 

He is Mishti Doi because he is really very sweet and he has a big sweet tooth. He won’t eat chawal or roti, but if you keep sweets in front of him, he can’t resist. 

Alia Bhatt

She is a jalapeno popper. It looks small, but it is very teekha. She is very spunky. 

Ratnalekha Mazumdar
What will you cook for your fave Holly/ Bolly/ Tolly celeb? Tell t2@abp.in