Chef Vikas Khanna Named To 2026 TIME100 List

Vikas Khanna, chef and founder of the New York restaurant Bungalow, has been named to the 2026 TIME100, TIME’s annual list of influential people.

The recognition reflects a career that extends beyond cooking. At Bungalow, a popular high-end Indian restaurant in New York’s East Village, Khanna offers a menu inspired by Indian “country club” cuisine and street food. It features unique dishes like five-cheese kulcha, spice-roasted pineapple, paneer chandni, and yogurt kebabs.

Khanna has redefined how Indian cuisine is presented internationally, and Bungalow attracts strong interest from diners, many of whom feel a personal connection to his work, which brings together cooking, storytelling, and social themes.

Khanna has also worked as a filmmaker, focusing on themes such as women’s experiences and human dignity. His films include The Last Color (2019), starring Neena Gupta, which highlights the lives of widows and access to education; Barefoot Empress (2022), about a 96-year-old woman who returns to school; and Imaginary Rain, starring Shabana Azmi, about an immigrant chef in New York rediscovering her identity, set for release later this year.

“Being recognized on the TIME100 is an honor,” Khanna said. “I have always believed food is about memory and human connection. I share this with everyone who supported me.”