Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor needs no introduction. His name is popular in most Indian households – be it because of his famous 90’s Indian cooking show ‘Khana Khazana’ or the more recent appearance on MasterChef India. But behind the celebrity chef’s empire of Yellow Chilli restaurants and TV stardom lies a Bollywood-worthy love story with wife Alyona Kapoor. Interestingly, their love story began by a chanced meeting on a train journey to Banaras, which blossomed through handwritten letters, that led to a marriage in 1992 which is going strong even today. Here’s how one of India’s favourite chefs cooked up 33 years of marital bliss:A train ride in chilly winter that sparked forever loveImagine India in the 1980s: Young chef Sanjeev, working at Delhi’s ITDC Hotel, boards a train to Banaras with colleague Vandana. Her sister Alyona Sadhour, bundled up against the cold, catches his eye. When shivers hit, Sanjeev gently holds her hand to warm it. No grand gestures, just pure instinct. That simple touch lit the spark for their love. “It was magical,” they’d later share, reported Bollywood Shaadis.Long-distance love that defied distanceSanjeev’s chef career took him to New Zealand. Meanwhile Alyona, booked her first-ever flight just to surprise him in Singapore – sitting right beside him mid-journey. “She’d never flown before,” Sanjeev had shared earlier. Considering that they courted at a time when the internet had not shrunk the world, the duo survived on love letters and sky-high phone bills – Sanjeev shared that he blew half his salary calling her!Wedding bells and years of togetherness
It was in October 1992, when Chef Sanjeev married his lady-love Alyona, blending Punjabi-Russian roots into a beautiful chaos. The couple were blessed with two daughters – elder one being Rachita (born on August 8, 1994, Sanjeev’s “life-changing sunshine”) and younger one, Kriti. Sharing how fatherhood transformed him, Kapoor said, “Rachita’s birth filled our world with laughter.” The girls grew up savouring their dad’s kitchen experiments while their mom Alyona grounded the glamour and raised them with values.
Romantic gestures that keep their love aliveOn Alyona’s 50th birthday, Sanjeev blindfolded her at their party, led her downstairs, and surprised her with a brand new car as a gift, as per reports. “Life is just great,” she gushes. Sanjeev admits, “I can’t stay a day away from her.” Their secret of a happy and loving marriage? Food dates and sharing plates – always side-by-side, feeding each other! “We still eat from one plate,” they laugh. Date nights mean restaurant-hopping, tasting each other’s picks. Food literally fuels their love.In candid YouTube chats, Alyona calls Sanjeev “very romantic”; while he credits her for his success, “She’s my anchor.” Through Khana Khazana’s rise, restaurant chains, and Rajya Sabha days, Alyona managed home while he conquered kitchens. No fairy tale endings – just steady love, shared meals, mutual respect.
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