Director Raja Krishna Menon Reflects on ‘Chef’ and Its Impact After 7 Years

As the Indian film “Chef” directed by Raja Krishna Menon celebrates its seventh anniversary, the director exclusively shared his thoughts on the movie and its box office performance with Zoom. The film, which stars Saif Ali Khan, explores the rich tapestry of food as a cultural and emotional binder in Indian society. Menon spoke about the indelible connection between food and family that the film portrays, highlighting the narrative’s focus on human relationships intertwined with culinary themes.

Menon emphasized that the movie was more an exploration of a father-son relationship rather than a straightforward remake of the original French film by Jon Favreau. “I had the greatest time making Chef,” Menon shared. He expressed that working with Saif Ali Khan, Padmapriya, and Svar Kamble, who portrayed his on-screen son, was a delightful experience. He also indicated that the film was a personal introspection of his relationship with his own son and was gratified by the positive responses from audiences, especially younger viewers.

When asked about the deviations from the original Jon Favreau film, Menon noted, “We used the structure, being estranged, and food, especially what that means to us as people, but we approached the script from an Indian family point of view.” He cited the cultural differences between Indian and American familial relationships as a key factor in his approach.

Reflecting on the film’s reception, Menon acknowledged its underperformance at the box office, attributing it to marketing challenges and the audience’s readiness for such a genre at the time. Despite this, the film has found a new audience online, suggesting that it resonated with viewers in a manner not reflected in its initial release.

Discussing his collaboration with Khan, Menon complimented the actor’s rapport with young co-stars, particularly Svar Kamble, highlighting their mutual learning experience. Menon also expressed anticipation about Kamble’s future in the film industry.

Menon is currently focusing on writing new material, utilizing the industry’s current slowdown to reassess his storytelling approach and maintain authenticity in his work. “It’s a great time to be writing interesting new and very different material,” he shared, indicating a fresh phase in his creative journey.