Samantha Ruth Prabhu is stepping into a new space with Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, a cooking reality show that will bring familiar faces from the Tamil entertainment industry into the kitchen. The show will air on Sony VIZHA and stream on Sony LIV, with Samantha joining the programme as host and celebrity judge.

Produced by Banijay Asia, the Tamil adaptation of the popular MasterChef format will see celebrities trade film sets and television studios for cooking stations.

Contestants will have to work through different culinary challenges while dealing with time limits, unexpected twists and the pressure of creating dishes that impress the judges.

Samantha had earlier said that the show appealed to her because it was unlike anything she had done before. She also teased that audiences would get to see some of their favourite Tamil celebrities experiment in the kitchen, make mistakes and compete against one another.

Celebrity MasterChef Tamil gets its judging panel

The makers have now announced three chefs who will judge the contestants alongside Samantha.

Chef Venkatesh Bhat, known for his work as a chef, restaurateur, hospitality professional and television personality, will be part of the panel. He is joined by Chef Sashi Cheliah, who won Season 10 of MasterChef Australia, and Chef Shreeya Adka, culinary expert and founder of The French Door in Coimbatore.

The three judges come from different culinary backgrounds and will assess the celebrity contestants as they tackle cooking tasks inspired by a range of flavours and techniques.

For Venkatesh Bhat, the show is also an opportunity to highlight Tamil cuisine and its regional variety. He has spoken about wanting the programme to showcase the depth and heritage of Tamil food to a wider audience.

Sashi Cheliah brings his MasterChef experience

Sashi Cheliah brings his own MasterChef experience to the judging panel. Before entering the culinary world, he worked with the Singapore Police Force before eventually winning MasterChef Australia Season 10.

Speaking about the new role, Sashi said his own experience as a contestant would help him understand what the celebrities could be going through in the kitchen, from nerves and uncertainty to the excitement of getting a dish right.

He said he is looking forward to pushing the contestants beyond their comfort zones while discovering the flavours and personal stories they bring to the competition.

Shreeya Adka on Tamil food and culture

Chef Shreeya Adka also joins the panel, bringing her experience from The French Door in Coimbatore. She described food as something that can bring people together and create memories, while highlighting the connection between cooking, Tamil flavours and traditions.

With Samantha Ruth Prabhu at the helm and a judging panel featuring Venkatesh Bhat, Sashi Cheliah and Shreeya Adka, Celebrity MasterChef Tamil is gearing up to bring Tamil cinema and television personalities into a very different kind of competition.

The show will premiere on October 19 at 8 pm and will be available on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV.