From Farming to Fame: How Nikunj Vasoya Turned His Passion for Kathiyawadi Cuisine into YouTube Success
From Farming to Fame: How Nikunj Vasoya Turned His Passion for Kathiyawadi Cuisine into YouTube Success
Nikunj Vasoya, who grew up in a modest farming family in Gujarat, has transformed his love for cooking into a thriving career with his YouTube channel, ‘Crazy for Indian Food.’ The channel is dedicated to authentic Kathiyawadi cuisine.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Vasoya says, “What I understood growing up in a poor household was that irrespective of a person being rich or poor, what keeps everyone happy is good food.” This belief, ingrained in him from a young age, fueled his passion for cooking.
Raised in Khijadiya in Jamnagar district, Vasoya’s childhood was marked by daily struggles. After working in the farm, he would help his mother in preparing meals which ignited his passion for cooking. What began as cooking for his family has now blossomed into a successful career.
In 2013, while pursuing a Company Secretaryship, Vasoya realized his true passion lay in cooking and decided to leave the course. “Right from childhood, I always had this dream of running my cookery show. When, how, and where; I had no clue about how to go about it. Then it struck me, starting my channel on YouTube would be a great idea,” he recalls.
Vasoya launched his YouTube channel, showcasing authentic Kathiyawadi dishes made from fresh, local ingredients sourced directly from his farm. His unique approach, which includes cooking on the farm and detailing the ingredient sourcing process, quickly attracted viewers. Today, ‘Crazy For Indian Food’ boasts over 590,000 subscribers, with his most popular video amassing an impressive 9.1 million views. Besides cooking, Vasoya also reviews popular street food spots and restaurants.
Since starting his channel in 2013, Vasoya has expanded his reach, creating a network called Foodon TV, which now includes six channels and four websites in six languages. Despite facing personal challenges, including a divorce, Vasoya remained focused on his career and found love again in 2021.
His authentic Kathiyawadi cuisine gained widespread recognition, earning him an invitation to cook at the Ambani family’s New Year’s dinner and Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding and wedding celebrations. Dishes like Jamnagari Sev, Mamra Lili Chutney, Desi Sev Tamera Shaak, and Bajra Rotla were featured in these high-profile events.
“Never give up, dream big, work on it, and it will happen,” says Nikunj Vasoya, underscoring his journey from a humble farming background to culinary stardom.
