Before participating in MasterChef India season 1, Pankaj worked as a school teacher for nearly 16 years and quit her job to participate in the show. She became the first-ever winner of the Indian edition of MasterChef and reportedly won Rs 1 crore as prize money. After the show, she established herself as an author and host of cooking shows. She featured in standalone culinary shows like Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka, Kifayati Kitchen, and 3 Course with Pankaj. She also launched the Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy in Lucknow to train aspiring chefs. Bhadouria has authored several cookbooks, including the official MasterChef Cookbook, and is known for sharing easy Indian recipes, cooking tips, and kitchen hacks through her TV appearances and social media channels.
