Nothing was planned, no roadmaps were made… life for Aditya Bal wasn’t meant to turn out this way. “And look where I am today,” the model turned celebrity chef and TV host says with a lot of contentment in his voice. The first thing one associates him with is modeling. Even though he’s a nephew of the popular designer Rohit Bal, Aditya didn’t really prepare or work towards being a part of the fashion frat. Just like his current career, modeling happened “purely by accident.” “I was studying in Delhi and before I knew it was part of a fashion show,” reminisces Bal. While modeling kept him busy for many years, not many knew he was busy rustling up fine fare in his own kitchen. “I guess I get it from my grandmother who was a legendary baker and would supply to leading stores in Delhi,” mentions Aditya who loves baking and the French way of cooking. “I would be constantly experimenting in the kitchen…I soon realized I was getting passionate about it all,” he admits. Finding the whole process of creating dishes, treating friends and family as “very gratifying”, Bal walked off the ramp and straight into a friend’s restaurant in Goa. “Since I am self-taught with no formal training as a Chef, I decided to get as much hands-on experience as I could,” shares Aditya who spent a couple of years flitting from one restaurant to another. Before he knew it, he was signed on as a host and Chef of a cookery show with the TV channel, NDTV Good Times. “I auditioned for the part on Marut Sikka’s recommendation and before I realized it, I was on air cooking,” says the one-time model who debuted on television with ‘Chakh Le India’. He’s now graduated to a new show ‘Breaking bread with Bal’ on the same channel and is looking to write a book on “simple” cooking for those who don’t cook! “For novices, the page long ingredients of a recipe book can be very demoralizing. My aim is to put forth recipes for survival as well as do it yourselves,” shares Bal who is loving every bit of his new found career.

“Life has been full of surprises. I never knew I would be a Chef one day…but then I never plan ahead,” says the tall guy who is now set to walk in the shoes of a judge with Pepsico India that incidentally got him to come to Chandigarh on Tuesday afternoon. “Visiting Chandigarh is always a nostalgic feeling as I studied at Lawrence School, Sanawar,” remarked Bal who pairs up with Anuja Chauhan, executive creative director of JWT, the people behind Pepsi’s successful ad campaigns in India for the new consumer initiative. “We are on a hunt for a new flavour for Lays potato chips. Personally, I would love something with garlic and rosemary…there has to be a subtle kick in the flavour,” he gives us his take. As for his own recipe for success, Bal ponders for a moment and then says, “Go with the flow.” We’ll ditto that.