The couple has known each other for a while and have found common ground in food and travel
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 1, 2018)

Imtiaz Ali, who has championed romance and its various aspects through his celluloid stories, seems to have found love in real life in Master Chef Australia season 6 contestant, celebrity chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Sarah Todd. Mirror has learnt that the duo has known each other for a while and had started out as friends. Sarah has already made India her home — she runs a 250-seat Australian-themed restaurant in North Goa.

“They share a common passion for food and travel and like spending time with each other. Imtiaz is a very private person and likes to keep his personal life away from the public view. They are taking it slow for now and there is no clarity if the topic of marriage has been raised,” informs a source in the know. Sarah had first sparked rumours of a romance when she put up a picture with the 46-year-old filmmaker at her beachfront hotel in Vagator, gushing, “Still pinching myself when I look around at the incredible place my team and I have built. It’s off season and we’re almost full every night... So proud of our hardworking staff… and great company Imtiaz Ali.” Meanwhile, the Jab We Met hitmaker had posted a picture of a beautiful sunset from the restaurant.

While Imtiaz was previously married to filmmaker Preety Ali — their divorce came through in 2012 — Sarah reportedly got out of a six-year relationship with ex-finance Devinder Garcha but is on cordial terms with him. The former couple shares the custody of their son, Phoenix. Last year, a day after Imtiaz’s birthday on June 16, Sarah had taken to the social media to wish the director. “A very happy birthday for yesterday to my good friend and the coolest movie maker Imtiaz Ali,” she had said, adding that she couldn’t wait to watch his then upcoming release, the Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma-starrer Jab Harry Met Sejal.

In February this year, Sarah took in the sights in Pahalgam even as the filmmaker attended the annual Pahalgam festival.

Despite repeated attempts, Imtiaz remained unavailable for comment.

The globally popular Masterchef has now inspired a film which is set to roll mid-next year.
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2015)

UK, US, Australia and India... This cooking competition has the couch potatoes hooked and now has inspired Monali Sen Choudhury to script a two-hour feature film inspired by it. Interestingly, the film even borrows its title from the globally successful TV show, Masterchef. However, on the big screen, the master chef is a woman and the film traces her journey strewn with several hurdles before she is acknowledged as the best culinary expert in the world.

"It's a human interest story. The protagonist has a keen interest in and a talent for cooking. It becomes a cathartic experience for her, taking her to the top of her profession," informs producer Ram Mirchandani.

Buzz is, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif are in contention for the title role. Ram won't comment on this casting but admits that two British actors who are big names in the West have been approached for an interesting, extended cameo. "We are in talks with Academy Award winner Colin Firth and Oscar-nominated actor for The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch, for this role which has a hint of romance. Both the actors know about Masterchef and have shown interest. So the leading lady who is our film's hero could share screen space with a Hollywood star," he says, adding that one of the show's judges, either Heston Blumenthal or Gordon Ramsay, could also make an appearance along with that season's participants in a small portion before the climax.

The film is expected to roll around May-June and will be shot in 55 days in Mumbai and a picturesque hill station which could be either Coonoor or Darjeeling.