Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has been named in the popular TIME magazine’s 2026 list of the 100 most influential people, marking a proud moment for Indian culinary artistry on the global stage. Celebrating the remarkable milestone with the coveted spot, Khanna expressed much gratitude and pride. “I feel more for all the people who have stood by me all these decades. This is a big achievement for both our Indian culture and cuisine. I believe this will help volumise our voices in Indian cuisine,” Khanna said.He spoke about how the recognition brings a “big honour for the years of consistency” for him. “Even if people don’t show up, I believe Indian food is the game,” Khanna added. As the recognition sparked a wave of joy for proud Indians, Khanna received one of the first greetings from Priyanka Chopra Jonas. “Priyanka is among the first people in the world to text me for such a big moment. She is one of the first people I told when we heard the news,” Khanna said, adding that in her text, she said, “This is a big moment for our cuisine and our culture right now.” Released on Wednesday, TIME magazine’s 2026 list of the 100 most influential people featured Vikas alongside the likes of Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.