Adil Hussain on cooking as meditation: 'Food becomes your body'
Synopsis
Adil Hussain doesn't just cook — he meditates through it. The actor believes a cook's emotional state, intention, and mood are literally absorbed into food and become part of the body of those who eat it. He once put that philosophy into practice with a six-course meal for Sridevi on the sets of 'English Vinglish' in New York.
Key Takeaways
Adil Hussain describes cooking as a core part of his meditative practice , not just a domestic activity.
He believes a cook's emotional state and intention are absorbed into food and affect the body of those who consume it.
Hussain primarily cooks for his wife, son, and friends , viewing the act of serving as equally important as preparation.
He recalled cooking a six-course meal for the late actress Sridevi and the crew on the New York set of 'English Vinglish' after catering became monotonous.
Actor Adil Hussain has opened up about how cooking has evolved into a deeply meditative practice for him — one that he believes directly shapes the mind, body, and spirit of both the cook and those who eat the food. Speaking in a recent interview, Hussain described culinary art not merely as a domestic chore but as a purposeful act of intention and mindfulness.
Cooking as a Meditative Discipline
'It is one of the activities that help me keep calm, and then I also purposely do my other practices. But cooking for me has become a part of my meditative practice, because I understand the gravity of food, because food goes into your body and it becomes your body,' Hussain said. He elaborated that everything consumed — from nutrients to the energy of preparation — is absorbed into 'your organs, your blood, your nerves, your brain cells, everything.'
The actor stressed that the emotional state of the cook matters as much as the ingredients. 'It is very important what kind of a mood and mode that you are in while you cook... everything is sort of absorbed into the food — your intention, food cooking starts from the point you want to cook, from the birth of the intention,' he explained.
Who He Cooks For
Hussain shared that cooking is not a solitary ritual for him — it is an act of service. 'Most of the time I cook for our son, my wife and my friends, of course,' he said, underscoring that the intention behind serving food is as significant as the preparation itself. He added that the manner and emotional state in which food is served also carries weight.
The Sridevi Anecdote: A 6-Course Meal on Set
The actor also recalled a memorable culinary gesture on the sets of 'English Vinglish', filmed in New York. Finding that the crew's catering had become repetitive — limited to North Indian cuisine — Hussain stepped in and personally prepared a six-course meal for the late actress Sridevi and the rest of the crew. The gesture reflected the same philosophy he espouses today: that food cooked with care and intention carries a distinct quality.
The Broader Philosophy
Hussain's perspective aligns with a growing body of wellness thinking that links mindful cooking to reduced stress and improved mental clarity, though the actor frames it through personal experience rather than clinical study. For him, the act of cooking — from the first intention to the final serving — is a continuous, conscious practice. It is a view that connects his artistic sensibility to his daily domestic life, suggesting that for Adil Hussain, the kitchen is as much a creative space as any film set.
Point of View
The underlying message — that care in preparation translates to quality in outcome — is hard to argue with.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adil Hussain consider cooking a meditative practice?
Adil Hussain considers cooking meditative because he believes the cook's emotional state and intention are absorbed into the food, which in turn becomes part of the body of those who eat it. He treats every stage — from the decision to cook to the act of serving — as a conscious, mindful process.
Who does Adil Hussain usually cook for?
Hussain says he most often cooks for his wife, son, and friends. He views cooking as an act of care and service, not just sustenance.
What was Adil Hussain's connection to Sridevi through food?
On the New York set of 'English Vinglish', Adil Hussain reportedly cooked a six-course meal for the late actress Sridevi and the film's crew after the on-set catering — limited to North Indian cuisine — had grown repetitive.
What is Adil Hussain's philosophy on the mood required while cooking?
Hussain believes it is essential to be in a positive, calm emotional state while cooking, arguing that mood, mode, and intention all get 'absorbed into the food.' He extends this to the act of serving as well, saying the emotional state at that point matters equally.
