Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar says his connection with comedian-actor Zakir Khan runs deeper than a shared screen appearance on the new streaming quiz show 'Yess Chef' — it is rooted in the shared hunger and drive of children raised in small-town India. Brar made the remarks during promotional events for the show in the Andheri West area of Mumbai on 6 October 2026.

The Small-Town Bond

Brar, who hails from Lucknow, and Khan, who is from Indore, featured together in the premiere episode of 'Yess Chef'. Reflecting on what ties them together, Brar said: 'See, we both come from different places. But the connection between the two of us is like the hungry children of small towns. Zakir is from Indore, I am from Lucknow. And the hunger and persistence of the children of a small town connects us.'

The chef added that the bond extends to Zakir's family as well. 'I have a lot of love for his parents. His family loves me a lot,' he said. This sentiment of mutual affection was underscored by a late-night phone call he received from Zakir Khan's father.

A Call From Zakir's Father

Brar described receiving a personal message of appreciation from Khan's father the night before the interview. 'Last night, I got a call from Zakir's father before going to bed at 11:15 pm. He told me that he liked me a lot. He wished me well. He said that I have made such a good show,' Brar recalled.

He described the relationship as familial in its warmth — one built on unconditional support rather than professional obligation. 'That relationship is like a family relationship. Where there is an unconditional support and love. And I consider myself fortunate to have friends like him,' he said. Notably, the bond between the two figures — one a celebrated culinary personality, the other a chart-topping stand-up comic — reflects a broader cultural thread of small-town India producing some of the country's most prominent entertainers.

'Yess Chef' and Its Early Reception

The quiz show 'Yess Chef' has reportedly been drawing strong viewer response since its launch on the streaming platform. Brar's decision to anchor a food-themed format rather than a conventional cooking competition signals an attempt to blend entertainment with culinary education. The premiere episode featuring Zakir Khan appears to have been a deliberate choice to bring two voices of small-town authenticity together on screen.

Brar on Food Safety and Fresh Produce

Beyond the show, Brar also spoke about an issue he feels strongly about: food safety in everyday homes. He urged consumers to return to buying fresh produce from local vegetable markets rather than relying exclusively on quick-delivery apps. 'I believe that first of all, do your own shopping from local markets. That is very important if we talk about freshness. All of us have stopped going to the vegetable market. The 10-minute apps have changed the culture of shopping from vegetable markets,' he said.

He further argued that refrigerators — stocked with half-used ingredients from impulse app orders — create unnecessary mental stress. 'If we make as much food as we want, then there will be less things in the refrigerator. And if there are less things in the refrigerator, then there will be less tension in the mind... So, the refrigerator is equivalent to the tension in the mind,' Brar added, advocating for mindful, need-based cooking. As 'Yess Chef' continues its promotional run, all eyes will be on whether it can translate its early buzz into sustained viewership.