By Saurav Mehra MasterChef India Telugu, commonly known as MasterChef Telugu, is the Telugu-language version of the popular competitive cooking reality franchise MasterChef India. The show gives talented home cooks from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other regions an opportunity to demonstrate their cooking skills through increasingly difficult culinary challenges.
The Telugu edition first premiered in 2021 on Gemini TV and was also available through Sun NXT. After a gap, the programme returned with a completely revamped second season in 2024 on SonyLIV. The two seasons have featured professional chefs as judges and contestants with different cooking backgrounds, ranging from home bakers to entrepreneurs and passionate home cooks. As of 2026, two seasons of MasterChef India Telugu have been completed.
MasterChef India Telugu Winners List of All Seasons
| Season | Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Judges |
| Season 1 | 2021 | K. Krishna Tejasvi | G. D. Anusha | Chalapathi Rao, Sanjay Thumma, Mahesh Padala |
| Season 2 | 2024 | Mahaboob Vin Basha | Shyam Gopisetti | Chalapathi Rao, Sanjay Thumma, Nikitha Umesh |
MasterChef India Telugu Season 1 Winner – K. Krishna Tejasvi
The first season of MasterChef India Telugu premiered on 27 August 2021 on Gemini TV. The programme was also made available digitally through Sun NXT.
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia initially hosted the show and appeared as presenter from Episodes 1 to 16. Television presenter and actress Anasuya Bharadwaj subsequently took over hosting duties from Episodes 17 to 24. The final episodes continued without a regular host.
The judging panel consisted of professional chefs Chalapathi Rao, Sanjay Thumma and Mahesh Padala.
A total of 14 contestants entered the main MasterChef kitchen after progressing through the audition process. They faced different culinary tests designed to evaluate their creativity, technical ability, time management and understanding of ingredients.
- Krishna Tejasvi, a home baker from Hyderabad, emerged as the winner of MasterChef India Telugu Season 1.
- D. Anusha, a contestant from Hyderabad, finished as the runner-up, while Kamal Jakkilinki from Visakhapatnam secured the next position.
The grand finale aired on 27 November 2021, completing a 28-episode first season.
Krishna Tejasvi received the MasterChef Telugu title after proving her ability across different types of cooking challenges during the competition. Her victory also made her the first-ever winner of the Telugu version of MasterChef India.
MasterChef India Telugu Season 2 Winner – Mahaboob Vin Basha
MasterChef India Telugu returned for its second season after a gap of more than two years.
Season 2 premiered on 22 April 2024 and was released exclusively through SonyLIV, rather than following the television-first format used during Season 1.
The second season also changed the judging panel. Chefs Chalapathi Rao and Sanjay Thumma returned from the first edition, while Nikitha Umesh joined them as the third judge.
Unlike the first season, Season 2 did not have a regular host. The three judges played a larger role in introducing challenges, evaluating dishes and guiding the contestants through the competition.
A total of 12 home cooks entered the MasterChef kitchen.
The participants came from different professional and personal backgrounds, bringing regional dishes, family recipes and modern cooking techniques into the competition.
Mahaboob Vin Basha, from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, emerged as the winner of MasterChef India Telugu Season 2.
Shyam Gopisetti finished as the first runner-up.
The grand finale was released on 7 June 2024 on SonyLIV.
Mahaboob received the MasterChef India Telugu trophy and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
His cooking journey was strongly influenced by his family’s food background. He entered the competition with an interest in pastry and modern cooking while also drawing inspiration from his father’s kebab business.
Throughout the season, Mahaboob impressed the judges by combining familiar flavours with more contemporary presentation and cooking techniques. His performance in the final stages eventually earned him the Season 2 championship.
MasterChef India Telugu Hosts and Presenters
The hosting format of MasterChef India Telugu has changed significantly between its two seasons.
Tamannaah Bhatia became the first presenter of the Telugu edition when Season 1 began in 2021. She hosted the first 16 episodes.
Anasuya Bharadwaj subsequently took over and presented Episodes 17 to 24 of the first season. The remaining Season 1 episodes were completed without a regular presenter.
Season 2 moved away from the traditional host-based format altogether. There was no dedicated host, with the professional chefs taking greater responsibility for presenting the competition and interacting with contestants.
MasterChef India Telugu Judges
Professional chefs are at the centre of MasterChef India Telugu because they evaluate the contestants and decide who advances through most stages of the competition.
Chalapathi Rao
Chef Chalapathi Rao has been associated with both completed seasons of MasterChef India Telugu. He was part of the inaugural judging panel in 2021 and returned for Season 2 in 2024.
Sanjay Thumma
Chef Sanjay Thumma, widely known for his work in popularising Indian and Telugu cooking, has also judged both seasons.
His knowledge of regional food and traditional flavours has made him an important part of the programme.
Mahesh Padala
Chef Mahesh Padala served as a judge during Season 1 alongside Chalapathi Rao and Sanjay Thumma.
He did not return for the second season.
Nikitha Umesh
Chef Nikitha Umesh joined the programme as a judge in Season 2.
She formed the 2024 judging panel alongside Sanjay Thumma and Chalapathi Rao.
MasterChef India Telugu Season 1 and Season 2 Differences
The two seasons of MasterChef India Telugu followed the same basic cooking competition concept but had several important differences.
Season 1 aired primarily on Gemini TV with Sun NXT providing digital access. It was filmed at Innovative Film City in Bengaluru and featured 14 contestants.
Season 2 became a SonyLIV-exclusive competition and was filmed in Mumbai. The number of contestants was reduced to 12.
The first season initially used celebrity presenters, while Season 2 operated without a dedicated host.
There was also a change in the judging lineup, with Nikitha Umesh replacing Mahesh Padala alongside returning judges Chalapathi Rao and Sanjay Thumma.
These changes gave Season 2 a somewhat different presentation while retaining the essential MasterChef structure.
MasterChef India Telugu Format
MasterChef India Telugu follows the broader MasterChef competition format in which amateur and home cooks compete through a series of culinary challenges.
Contestants may have to prepare dishes using particular ingredients, recreate complicated recipes or develop original dishes within strict time limits.
Mystery Box challenges can require contestants to produce a dish using ingredients revealed only when the challenge begins.
Pressure Tests generally place weaker-performing contestants under additional pressure, with elimination often depending on their performance.
Team Challenges require contestants to work together, divide responsibilities and prepare food for larger groups.
Other challenges may test regional cuisine, desserts, restaurant-style cooking, presentation and the ability to work with unfamiliar ingredients.
The judges evaluate dishes based on factors such as taste, technique, creativity, presentation and use of ingredients.
Contestants are gradually eliminated until the strongest cooks reach the finale, where the MasterChef title is decided.
MasterChef India Telugu Season 3 Status
As of August 2026, MasterChef India Telugu has completed two seasons.
Season 2 remains the most recent edition and concluded on 7 June 2024 with Mahaboob Vin Basha winning the title.
There has been no confirmed completed MasterChef India Telugu Season 3. Therefore, no third winner should currently be added to the official winners list.
Any new season should be included only after an official announcement and completion of the competition.
Final Words
MasterChef India Telugu has provided a dedicated platform for talented Telugu-speaking home cooks since its debut in 2021.
- Krishna Tejasvi created history by becoming the first MasterChef India Telugu winner after defeating runner-up G. D. Anusha in Season 1.
The show returned with a new digital format in 2024, when Mahaboob Vin Basha won Season 2 and Shyam Gopisetti finished as runner-up.
As of 2026, Mahaboob Vin Basha remains the latest MasterChef India Telugu winner, and two seasons of the Telugu edition have been completed.