Sanjay Thumma
Sanjay Thumma, known as VahChef, teaches Indian cooking through VahRehVah’s English and Telugu videos and brings his kitchen experience to television judging.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Sanjay’s team an official invite.
🔒 Star boosts open once Sanjay claims this page.
Latest
Sanjay’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Star Maa
YouTube
TEDxHyderabadOverview
- Known as
- VahChef
- From
- Hyderabad, India
- Training
- Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad
- Online beginnings
- Started uploading VahChef cooking videos in 2007
- Before YouTube
- Opened Sizzle India in Chicago in 1998
Mini bio
How it started.
Sanjay grew up in Hyderabad, learning by watching his mother cook. When she was unwell, he put those observations to work making family staples such as rice, dal, dosa and scrambled eggs. He went on to train in hotel management.
From restaurants to recipes.
He opened Sizzle India in Chicago in 1998 and expanded to four restaurants. Running them left less time for cooking, so he sold the businesses. In 2007, he began sharing Indian recipes on YouTube as VahChef, finding an audience among home cooks and Indian communities abroad. He returned to India with his family in 2008.
A familiar face in the kitchen.
His English and Telugu channels make Indian cooking approachable through demonstrations and humour. Television viewers also know him as a judge on MasterChef India - Telugu and Cooku With Jathirathnalu. His current website brings together food, farming and fitness, while his videos continue to explore everyday meals and regional favourites.
Creditschronological, newest first
Television
- 2025Cooku With JathirathnaluJudge
- 2024MasterChef India - TeluguJudge
Talks and video
- 2026Welcoming Vinayaka Home SongConcept and presentation, featuring Shadnagar children
- 2018Create your own recipe for successTEDxHyderabad speaker
- 2007VahChef cooking videosCreator and chef
Awards
Quotes
Personal experience and taste are yours, not AI’s.Sanjay Thumma, The Siasat Daily
In his October 2026 World Food Day interview, he explained why technology cannot replace the personal memories attached to food.
Trivia
- His childhood nickname was “Biriyani Kid”, according to the family story he told The New Indian Express.
- He credits his father with his sense of humour.
- His “boomba boomba” expression began as an instinctive response while guest judging MasterChef India Hindi.
Find Sanjay
Follow his recipes, television moments and life beyond the kitchen.
Are you Sanjay Thumma?
Fans built this page. Claim it to connect with them and unlock Star boosts, or request a takedown if you’d rather it not exist.