‘People get nervous about failure, I get nervous about success’: Vikas Khanna reflects on fame and success

Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna recently opened up about his relationship with success, admitting that it still makes him nervous. During an appearance on Curly Tales, Vikas and his mother reflected on some of the defining moments of his journey.

While Vikas spoke about why success makes him “nervous” and the mindset that has driven his career, his mother recalled the dream he fulfilled by meeting Queen Elizabeth and shared the achievement that made her the proudest.Speaking about success, Vikas admitted that it still overwhelms him. “People get nervous about failure. I get nervous about success. I keep asking myself, ‘Why me' When I was named to the TIME100, the first thing I wanted to do was come and see my mom.

That’s why I came. I was so nervous. To be in a room where Indians have barely had a footprint, it felt like an acknowledgement of our culture and our voices,” he said.When asked whether he believes that thinking big leads to bigger achievements, Vikas explained that he has never allowed fear to stop him.“I don’t stop to think about how deep the water is below. I just take the leap. I can’t abandon a project. Once I commit to something, I see it through.”

His mother then shared one of the dreams Vikas had long before he became a globally recognised chef. “The best thing about him was that he always used to say, ‘I’m going to meet Queen Elizabeth before I come back.’ It sounded almost impossible, but he made it happen,” she said.Recalling the occasion, she added, “Arun Jaitley was there. Karan Johar was there. But Vikas was the first one to go inside. He spoke to the Queen and also to Kate.”When asked which achievement made her the proudest, she said, “Meeting the Queen. Even today, I find it hard to believe. When we were children, London felt like the biggest place in the world. I’ve travelled to many countries now, but nothing feels as special to me as London."