When it comes to a chef’s life, his/her chef coat and chef cap are not just a uniform, they are a part of their identity. The traditional white coat and cap not only make them stand out from the crowd but also reflect the hard work, endless working nights and passion that went into earning it. And when that coat helps you win a National Award from the President of India, the respect for that coat immediately increases. But what if you are denied wearing it for the prestigious evening and asked to wear something that defines Indian roots and tradition? It certainly hurts. That is what happened to celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, when he was denied wearing his pristine white chef coat after winning the Padma Shri Award in 2017. Scroll down to read the details.According to a reel shared by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor on Instagram, his win for the prestigious Padma Shri in 2017 came with mixed feelings. In the post, he mentioned that as per the dress code guidelines for the gala evening, he was not allowed to wear his chef coat, and was instead asked to wear something more Indian. To that, he objected and was ready to let go of the award. He said, “If you don’t want to give me the Padma Shri Award, then don’t give it.”Sharing his story in a series of videos called Kahaani Khazana, where he shared stories from his life that have never happened before he mentioned that throughout all the years he worked in the hotel as a chef, he used to wear a full uniform to work every day. With the change in time and shift to television cooking shows, the chef’s cap disappeared first because it didn’t look good on camera. Later, to give chefs a more casual look on camera, chef coat was replaced with bright shirts. While he accepted those changes in his life as a chef, he always believed that the chef’s uniform carries pride. And maybe that’s why chefs have come this far and that pride needs to be preserved by the chef community.What happened during Padma Shri AwardsHe later mentioned in the video that when it was time for the Padma Shri gala evening at the prestigious and magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan, “I was told that there is no such precedence. You will have to come in a national dress. I said, this is my profession, so please allow me.”“I was refused. I said, I will come in a chef’s uniform. If you don’t want to give me the Padma Shri Award, then don’t giveit.”
The historic eveningChef Sanjeev Kapoor has been a living example of determination and dedication who has seen many shades and trends of the food world. On April 13, 2017, when he reached the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the wave of change was being written and for the first time an individual received the award without following the dress code for the evening. He mentioned in the video, “I reached the President’s building. Without any argument, without any problem, I got the Padma Shri. And in this uniform.”Why did he choose to wear the coat?According to chef Sanjeev, everyone should treat the chef coat not just as a uniform but as a source of pride for their identity and the art they are known for. In the concluding part of the video he mentioned, “I feel that the Padma Shri is not just for me, but for the whole chef community.”Arrival of chef coat in IndiaAccording to historians, the concept of a chef’s uniform arrived during the colonial period, when European clubs, railways, and hotels introduced Western-style kitchens. Before this, Indian cooking traditions did not emphasise uniforms. Chefs, or khansamas and maharajs, typically cooked in simple cotton garments suited to the heat, often without a standardised dress code. The focus was more on skill and tradition than presentation. With the change in time, Indian chefs began to customize their own coats, and while the classic white double-breasted jacket remains dominant, modern kitchens now experiment with black coats, coloured piping, and personalised embroidery as well.
