A fter spending more than 20 years in law enforcement, working as a police officer, a prison officer, and even as a weapons specialist, Sashi Cheliah felt like doing something different. So he wore a chef’s hat and apron and decided to compete on MasterChef Australia , and eventually won.

“And the rest, as they say, is history,” he tells us in an exclusive interview.

And now, the tables have turned: he is back on the show, but this time as a judge on Celebrity MasterChef Tamil .

The South Indian chef, who grew up in Singapore, reflects on his journey, how Covid was extremely harsh, his new stint, and working with Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Read the edited excerpts below:

1. How has life been after winning MasterChef Australia Season 10 ? How different do you think life would have been if you hadn’t?

Sashi Cheliah: MasterChef Australia Season 10 definitely changed my life. Winning the competition gave me a huge advantage.…