# MasterChef India – Hindi season 9

**MasterChef India – Hindi season 9** is the ninth season of the Indian Hindi-language competitive cooking reality television series *MasterChef India – Hindi*, which premiered on [Sony Entertainment Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-entertainment-television) on 5 January 2026 and streamed on SonyLIV.<sup>[12](https://nettv4u.com/about/hindi/tv-shows/masterchef-india-season-9)</sup> It was the first season of the show contested by pairs, with 12 jodis (24 contestants) entering the [MasterChef](https://www.edgepedia.org/masterchef) kitchen after nationwide auditions.<sup>[12](https://nettv4u.com/about/hindi/tv-shows/masterchef-india-season-9)</sup> The season concluded on 6 March 2026 with the Nagpur brothers Ajinkya and Vikram Gandhe winning the title.<sup>[1](https://justwebworld.com/masterchef-india-winners-list/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | 5 January 2026, Sony Entertainment Television; streaming on SonyLIV<sup>[13](https://www.business-standard.com/entertainment/masterchef-india-season-9-know-the-release-date-theme-judges-and-more-nc-125121100751_1.html)</sup> |
| Theme | "Pride of Indian Flavours", centered on regional food, memory, and relationships<sup>[2](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)</sup> |
| Winners | Ajinkya and Vikram Gandhe, brothers from Nagpur; finale on 6 March 2026<sup>[1](https://justwebworld.com/masterchef-india-winners-list/)</sup> |
| Airtimes | Monday to Friday at 9 pm on Sony TV and SonyLIV<sup>[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/masterchef-india-9s-kunal-kapur-on-being-judged-for-becoming-a-chef-10450031/lite/)</sup> |

## Format and selection

Season 9 replaced the solo-contestant structure of earlier seasons with a pairs format. According to the show's official rules, a "Duo" or "Jodi" had to be two individuals related to each other by blood or marriage, each above 18 years of age as of 1 October 2025, Indian citizens residing in India, and able to furnish document proof of the relationship.<sup>[4](https://origin-staticv2.sonyliv.com/UI_icons/MasterChef_India/Rules_and_Regulations_Masterchef_India_03.10.2025.pdf)</sup> People who had reached the televised rounds of any previous season of the show, or of any similar show, were ineligible.<sup>[4](https://origin-staticv2.sonyliv.com/UI_icons/MasterChef_India/Rules_and_Regulations_Masterchef_India_03.10.2025.pdf)</sup>

The selection process ran in stages. The audition period ran from 30 October to 23 November 2025. Level 1 auditions were held across cities at dates decided by the production company, Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (formerly Sony Pictures Networks India); Level 2 auditions were conducted in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai; and Level 3 brought the top 60 duos to Mumbai for televised auditions. The top 24 duos from Level 3 entered a Bootcamp Round, from which the top 12 duos were selected as the show's contestants.<sup>[4](https://origin-staticv2.sonyliv.com/UI_icons/MasterChef_India/Rules_and_Regulations_Masterchef_India_03.10.2025.pdf)</sup>

The season's challenges followed the classic MasterChef structure: auditions and apron challenges, mystery box tasks, pressure tests, duo and team-based challenges, and weekly eliminations.<sup>[2](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)</sup> Example challenges included mystery boxes built on regional ingredients such as millets, indigenous oils, and grains; pressure tests built on the judges' signature dishes; cooking for large crowds in real kitchens; and festival-special episodes for [Makar Sankranti](https://www.edgepedia.org/makar-sankranti), Republic Day, and regional new years.<sup>[2](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)</sup> A dedicated immunity-pin challenge was also introduced: in the season's first major twist, six jodis competed in a high-pressure challenge testing culinary skill and coordination, which Avani and Venu won to claim the first immunity pin.<sup>[5](https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1303948)</sup>

Judge [Kunal Kapur](https://www.edgepedia.org/kunal-kapur) described the pairing rule as deliberately familial rather than social: "These teams on the show consist of people you are related to, it's not friends cooking together."<sup>[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/masterchef-india-9s-kunal-kapur-on-being-judged-for-becoming-a-chef-10450031/lite/)</sup>

## Theme and tone

The season's stated theme was Pride of Indian Flavours, celebrating India's culinary identity through emotions, memories, and relationships.<sup>[2](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)</sup> The sponsor DS Group described the season as built around "Jodis", celebrating food through partnerships and shared journeys, with a focus on regional flavors, traditional techniques, and the stories behind the spice.<sup>[6](https://www.dsgroup.com/media-center/ds-groups-catch-spices-partners-with-masterchef-india-season-9)</sup>

An India Today review of the premiere rated it 3.5 out of 5 and described the season as choosing "emotion, culture and familiarity over grandeur". The opening episode ran close to an hour and traveled from Mumbai to Punjab and Delhi to [Rajasthan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan), introducing contestants framed as barrier-breakers: a chef from Bikaner proving that age is no limitation for women, a YouTuber home cook from [Maharashtra](https://www.edgepedia.org/maharashtra) seeking recognition for her recipes, and a father-daughter duo representing their small community's cuisine.<sup>[7](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/entertainment/television/story/masterchef-india-9-hindi-review-a-slow-simmer-of-stories-culture-and-comfort-2847388-2026-01-06)</sup> The review noted that conversations around gender equality, education, social equity, and women's empowerment found space within the format, and that the show largely caters to a heartland television audience.<sup>[7](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/entertainment/television/story/masterchef-india-9-hindi-review-a-slow-simmer-of-stories-culture-and-comfort-2847388-2026-01-06)</sup>

## Broadcast, sponsorship, and reception

The show aired Monday to Friday at 9 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and streamed on SonyLIV.<sup>[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/masterchef-india-9s-kunal-kapur-on-being-judged-for-becoming-a-chef-10450031/lite/)</sup> Catch Salt & Spices, a brand of DS Group, joined as the exclusive Salt & Spices Partner, serving as Co-Powered Sponsor on Sony TV and Co-Special Partner on SonyLIV for a full-season partnership running from January to March 2026.<sup>[6](https://www.dsgroup.com/media-center/ds-groups-catch-spices-partners-with-masterchef-india-season-9)</sup>

Reported BARC ratings were modest: the show recorded a TRP of 0.3 in both week 4 and week 5 of 2026.<sup>[8](https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/masterchef-india-season-9/5380164/masterchef-season-9-trps)</sup> A popcornreview.in roundup described the family-pairs format as generating the most consistent positive audience reception of the year's reality shows, and noted that the top 3 finalists represented Maharashtra, Odisha, and [Telangana](https://www.edgepedia.org/telangana) rather than the usual north India and metro dominance.<sup>[9](https://popcornreview.in/indian-reality-shows-2026/)</sup>

## Contest progression and winner

The competition narrowed through eliminations in grand finale week: Simran and Himanshi were evicted after the Audition 2.0 Challenge, leaving four jodis in the title race.<sup>[10](https://www.bombaytimes.com/entertainment/tv/masterchef-india-2026-season-9-elimination-tonight-simran-and-himanshi-evicted-in-episode-43-grand-finale-week-check-latest-update/amp/1772546397657)</sup> The Punjab brother-sister pair Anshmeet Singh and Prabhdeep Kaur were then eliminated, leaving three jodis for the grand finale on 6 March 2026.<sup>[11](https://www.bombaytimes.com/entertainment/tv/masterchef-india-2026-top-3-jodi-in-grand-finale-episode-after-anshmeet-singh-and-prabhdeep-kaur-elimination-check-three-finalists-jodi/amp/1772768613436)</sup>

Brothers Ajinkya and Vikram Gandhe of Nagpur won the season, becoming the first winners of a pairs-format [MasterChef India](https://www.edgepedia.org/masterchef-india).<sup>[1](https://justwebworld.com/masterchef-india-winners-list/)</sup> The winner's rewards for the season included the MasterChef India season 9 trophy, a cash prize, a cookbook, brand collaboration opportunities, and in-season advantages such as immunity pins, advantage cards, and masterclasses.<sup>[2](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)</sup>

## References

1. [MasterChef India Winners List: All 9 Seasons (2010–2026), JustWebWorld](https://justwebworld.com/masterchef-india-winners-list/)
2. [MasterChef India 2026 – Season 9, Airtel Xstream Play](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/masterchef-india/SONYLIV_VOD_TVSHOW_1700001090)
3. [MasterChef India 9's Kunal Kapur on being judged for becoming a chef, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/masterchef-india-9s-kunal-kapur-on-being-judged-for-becoming-a-chef-10450031/lite/)
4. [MasterChef India (2025) Rules and Regulations, SonyLIV (PDF)](https://origin-staticv2.sonyliv.com/UI_icons/MasterChef_India/Rules_and_Regulations_Masterchef_India_03.10.2025.pdf)
5. [Avani-Venu clinch first immunity pin in MasterChef India 9 twist, Daijiworld](https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1303948)
6. [DS Group's Catch Spices partners with MasterChef India Season 9](https://www.dsgroup.com/media-center/ds-groups-catch-spices-partners-with-masterchef-india-season-9)
7. [MasterChef India 9 Hindi review: A slow simmer of stories, culture and comfort, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/entertainment/television/story/masterchef-india-9-hindi-review-a-slow-simmer-of-stories-culture-and-comfort-2847388-2026-01-06)
8. [MasterChef India Season 9 TRPs, India Forums](https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/masterchef-india-season-9/5380164/masterchef-season-9-trps)
9. [Indian Reality Shows 2026: TRPs, Feuds & What's Happening Now, Popcorn Review](https://popcornreview.in/indian-reality-shows-2026/)
10. [MasterChef India 2026 Season 9 Elimination: Simran and Himanshi Evicted, Bombay Times](https://www.bombaytimes.com/entertainment/tv/masterchef-india-2026-season-9-elimination-tonight-simran-and-himanshi-evicted-in-episode-43-grand-finale-week-check-latest-update/amp/1772546397657)
11. [MasterChef India 2026 Top 3 Jodi in Grand Finale, Bombay Times](https://www.bombaytimes.com/entertainment/tv/masterchef-india-2026-top-3-jodi-in-grand-finale-episode-after-anshmeet-singh-and-prabhdeep-kaur-elimination-check-three-finalists-jodi/amp/1772768613436)
12. [MasterChef India Season 9 Synopsis, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/about/hindi/tv-shows/masterchef-india-season-9)
13. [MasterChef India season 9: Know the release date, theme, judges and more, Business Standard](https://www.business-standard.com/entertainment/masterchef-india-season-9-know-the-release-date-theme-judges-and-more-nc-125121100751_1.html)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Culinary, physical, and other skill competition seasons › Cooking competition seasons*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license