{"id":"aigc-v0-4d768f79-0a22-5717-a686-4c40c0fda2ab","title":"From CA Aspirant to Culinary Star: Natasha Gandhi's $1.6M Food Empire","description":"Discover the inspiring journey of Natasha Gandhi, who swapped accounting ledgers for kitchen creations to build a massive online food empire with 1.6 million followers. Learn how a passion ignited during study breaks transformed into a celebrated career in food content creation.","timestamp":1771745168,"category":"food_and_health","headline":"From CA Aspirant to Culinary Star: Natasha Gandhi's $1.6M Food Empire","modifiedHeadline":"CA Dreams to $1.6M Food Empire","subCategories":["scid_e3201756"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7901537b-ffff-407c-b426-14d1ad2d4efb","bundleTitle":"Easy recipes","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"216","fcSummary":"Natasha Gandhi initially pursued a career in accounting but found her passion in cooking, transforming a study break into a $1.6 million food empire. From experimenting with recipes to launching \"house of millets,\" her journey included a baking course, healthier dessert innovations, and appearing on masterchef. pandemic spurred recipe videos, and she now leads a team creating diverse culinary content, showcasing india’s food heritage.","summary":"Natasha Gandhi swapped CA dreams for a $1.6M food empire! From study break cooking to MasterChef & viral videos, her journey inspires millions.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/entertainment/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-4d768f79-0a22-5717-a686-4c40c0fda2ab?byte=true","sourceUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/entertainment/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-4d768f79-0a22-5717-a686-4c40c0fda2ab?byte=true","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/UF3P0gLFmex0.webp","content":"

\n Once set for a CA career, Natasha Gandhi found her true calling in the kitchen, turning a study break into a $1.6M food empire. Explore her inspiring rise.\n

A Passion Ignited

Natasha Gandhi's culinary path wasn't a straight line; it began as an unconventional escape from the rigorous demands of Chartered Accountancy studies.

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Needing a mental respite from late-night study sessions, she started experimenting with simple yet satisfying dishes like chaats, frankies, and pastas. This initial exploration into cooking, while still aiming for accounting success, laid the groundwork for her future endeavors. Even after a brief stint in a fintech startup as a fraud investigator, the allure of sizzling spices and the art of cooking consistently pulled her back. Her childhood fascination with cooking shows and meticulously maintained recipe notebooks hinted at a deeper connection to the culinary world, a connection that would eventually define her career. The memory of attempting a Nigella Lawson chocolate lava cake in her youth, even with basic ingredients, underscores her early passion and willingness to experiment, foreshadowing the dedication she would later pour into her professional baking and cooking pursuits. This formative period highlights how her interest evolved from a mere study break to a significant and enduring passion.

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The Baking Breakthrough

Facing the daunting prospect of her final CA exam, Natasha Gandhi invested in a two-day baking course for Rs 2,000, funded by savings from her Rs 3,000 monthly stipend. She courageously persuaded her father to allow her to use her saved Rs 40,000 to purchase essential baking equipment, including an OTG oven, a high-grade mixer, and an electric whisk. This investment marked a turning point, allowing her to delve deeper into baking. A significant motivator for her culinary experiments became her father's borderline diabetes diagnosis. This spurred her to develop healthier dessert options, meticulously experimenting with millet flour and alternative sweeteners for nearly six months. The culmination of this effort was the successful creation of an almond strawberry tea cake. In November 2018, she leveraged this expertise to launch 'House of Millets,' an Instagram page dedicated to gluten-free, vegan, and millet-based desserts. By sharing samples with friends and influencers, including Saloni Kukreja who amplified her reach, she quickly garnered 50-60 orders within weeks, proving the viability of her innovative baked goods.

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MasterChef Stardom

The day she received the results of her fifth and final CA exam attempt, January 15, 2019, was a pivotal moment. Despite failing the exam, her parents' encouraging words, \"At least your cake business is doing well,\" shifted her focus. The growing success of her baking venture provided a sense of relief and a clear path forward. She then joined FoodHall Cookery Studio, where she managed social media and absorbed valuable knowledge by observing seasoned chefs like Manpreet Dhody and interacting with culinary figures such as Vikas Bagul and Vinesh Johnny. Six months later, a call arrived for auditions for a television cooking show, which she later discovered was MasterChef. Her audition dish, a millet pasta with makhni sauce, impressed the judges with its texture, earning her the first apron of the season. This experience was transformative, leading her to showcase dishes like avocado ice cream and Gujarati kadhi, ultimately securing a spot in the top five finalists. The show's conclusion in February 2020 marked the beginning of workshops and events, and her Instagram following surged from 2,000 to 60,000.

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Pandemic Pivot

As the pandemic swept through in 2020, Natasha Gandhi's online presence saw an exponential surge. With many people confined to their homes and lacking access to cooking assistance, a flood of messages arrived seeking guidance on basic recipes like tea, poha, and sabudana khichdi. Recognizing this widespread need, Gandhi, along with her sister who operated the camera, transformed their home in Mulund into a makeshift studio. Using a tripod and a floor-based setup, they began producing recipe videos. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with her videos quickly garnering millions of views. This period proved crucial in establishing her as a go-to source for accessible and reliable recipes, solidifying her authority in the digital food space. The ability to adapt and cater to the immediate needs of her audience during a global crisis significantly amplified her reach and impact, turning a challenging situation into an opportunity for immense growth.

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Series-Driven Exploration

Natasha Gandhi's content strategy is distinguished by her innovative, series-driven approach to exploring diverse culinary landscapes. Her 'Biryanis from India' series meticulously documents numerous regional variations of this iconic dish, delving into their unique histories and preparation methods. Similarly, 'Pastas from India' creatively highlights dishes like Gujarat's dal dhokli, Bihar's dal ki dulhan, and Kerala's pidiyum kozhiyum, recontextualizing them as forms of pasta. Initially focusing solely on vegetarian recipes, her perspective broadened when her husband, Vinayak Grover, recovering from an injury, suggested she make biryani. This led her on an extensive research journey, uncovering a wealth of regional biryani traditions beyond the well-known Hyderabadi and Lucknowi styles. She compiled a list of 50 biryanis, beginning with the Atterachi biryani from the Syrian Catholics of Kerala. Grover's visual expertise significantly enhanced the shooting process, and the resulting video went viral. Inspired, Gandhi deepened her culinary knowledge by attending workshops with food anthropologist Kurush Dalal and engaging in extensive reading, further fueling her passion for uncovering and sharing India's rich food heritage.

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The Culinary Team

Today, Natasha Gandhi operates a sophisticated culinary content creation unit, a testament to her growth and ambition. She works collaboratively with her husband, Vinayak Grover, who contributes his visual expertise. Their team has expanded to include two culinary graduates, a dedicated videographer, and four editors. This efficient structure allows them to produce an impressive three videos daily, with shooting sessions running from noon to 7 pm. Complementing this production powerhouse, Gandhi's sister expertly manages the social media operations, ensuring consistent engagement and outreach. Despite the demanding schedule and the pressure of the algorithm-driven online world, Gandhi emphasizes the importance of balance. She admits that on some days, the pressure can be overwhelming, leading them to take short breaks by traveling. Their favorite escape destination is Thailand, a country they adore for its culture and cuisine, highlighting their ongoing quest for inspiration and rejuvenation.

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From CA Aspirant to Culinary Star: Natasha Gandhi's $1.6M Food Empire

SUMMARY