Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 21 ENTERTAINMENT May 8, 2026 Lucknow Residents Express Love For Basket Chaat After It Gets Shortlist At Masterchef Australia 2026 T he Basket Chaat, a street food origi- nating from Lucknow, has earned an Indian-origin contestant, Kanika Gadyok, a spot in the top ten at Masterchef Australia 2026. Her dish outshone international delica- cies such as Butterfly Trout, Oxtail Ravioli, and Quail by presenting ‘Katori Chaat’ (Basket Chaat). It is served in an edible potato basket which features a harmoni- ous balance of crispy potato patties (tik- kis), sweet-and-sour chutneys, and spices. The residents of Lucknow expressed their happiness at the global popular- ity of the dish. According to Arushi from Lucknow, this dish is a unique blend of flavours, sweet, sour, tangy, crispy, and creamy, all rolled into one. While talking to ANI, Arushi Sharma said, “I’ve been eating basket chaat since childhood. I like the taste of it. When my relatives come from abroad, we bring them here so that they can eat and enjoy it. My forefathers and their parents also used to eat here. So, we really like it here.” Rudrani from Kurukshetra reveals that Basket Chaat ranks among her favourite dishes, and she makes a spe- cial trip to Lucknow specifically to savour it. “If you are coming to Lucknow, then you must try Basket Chart and Gol Gappas here. These are my favourites. I have come here from Ku- rukshetra. If you are coming to Lucknow, then you must try Basket Chart, it’s very tasty, and you can feel all the flavours of Lucknow very well, so you must try it at least once in your life,” said Rudrani. Mohammed Alam, the manager of the Royal Cafe, stated that this achievement demonstrates how Luc- know, a city renowned for its Kebabs and Biryani, is now seeing its vegetarian delicacies gain recog- nition on the global stage as well. “I have been working in the Royal Cafe for the past 10-12 years. All our chaat is mixed in this basket chaat. From dahi vada to bala papdi, aloo tikki, matar tikki, chole tikki. All the chaat flavours are mixed in this basket chaat. So, whenever you eat this chaat, you will get a new taste and flavour.” On the popularity of Basket Chaat, Alam added, “This is a matter of pride for us. And it is also a matter of pride for the people of Lucknow that our chaat is now in foreign countries.” The chef Kanhai Rajput described the dish as a true symbol of Lucknow’s rich culinary heritage, noting that the city has long stood as a hub for gastronomic innovation. He called the blend of masalas the true hero behind the dish. “The taste depends on the masala I put in. It varies as per the choices of the customers. We alter the spices as per the taste of the customer.” MasterChef Australia is currently airing its 18th sea- son. The show is judged by Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli. -ANI PHOTOS:ANI PHOTO:ANI Asif Ali’s Upcoming Film ‘Houdini’ First Look Out, To Hit Theatres In Summer 2026 “Hanste Rahiye, Hansaate Rahiye”: Akshay Kumar Revisits Iconic Comic Roles On World Laughter Day T he first look of the Malayalam film Houdini is finally out, giving a glimpse of Asif Ali’s character, who is set to play the role of a magician in the movie. Taking to his Instagram handle, the actor Asif Ali shared the first look poster of the film. In the poster, the actor’s character was caught between showmanship and some- thing more layered, pointing to a film that balances magic with action and emotional stakes. The movie is written and directed by G Prajeshsen. Apart from Asif Ali, the film also stars Guru Somasundaram, Srikanth Mura- li, Prasanth Alexander, & Geethi Sangeetha and Viviyasanth in the prominent roles. The film is expected to be released in the summer of 2026. The music of the film is composed by Bijibal. While sharing the poster, Asif Ali wrote, “First Look is Here! Houdini: The King of Magic. Worldwide Release Summer 2026. Written & Directed by G Prajeshsen. Pro- duced by Blue Hill Nale Communications & Prajeshsen Movie Club. A Bijibal Musical. Get ready to witness the magic!” Asif Ali was last seen in the film ‘Mirage’, which was directed by Jeethu Joseph. Apart from Ali, the film starred Aparna Balamu- rali, Hakim Shahjahan and Hannah Reji Koshy. The film was released on 19 September 2025 and received mixed reviews from critics. In his decade-long career, the actor has been a part of several hits, including Apoorvaragam, Traffic, Salt N’ Pepper, Ozhimuri and others. -ANI I n a bid to markWorld Laughter Day, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has taken a nostalgic trip, revisiting his epic comic moments from his popular films like ‘Welcome’, ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Bha- gam Bhag’, and others. Akshay shared a video montage of the film scenes, offering a subtle nod to his journey across the comedy genre. “Kisi ne bataya aaj World Laughter Day hai. Maine socha ho jaye! Hanste rahiye, hansaate rahiye,” the actor wrote in the caption. The video left fans amused, with many celebrating Akshay Kumar’s comedy hits and performances. His wife, Twinkle Khanna, also commented on the post, leaving a hilarious comment in her witty style. “May you laugh and make people laugh, all the way to the bank and then hand me the cheque book,” Twinkle wrote. One of the most versatile actors in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar is known for his impeccable comic timing and natural flair for humour. Some of his standout roles in films like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, ‘Welcome’, Housefull’, ‘Khatta Meetha’, ‘Singh is Kinng’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, and ‘Bhagam Bhag’ have cemented his position as the king of comedy in Indian cinema. On the work front, Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ recently opened in theatres. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, presents Bhooth Bangla starring Akshay Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, and Rajpal Yadav. The film is directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. He has Anees Bazmi’s next project with Vidya Balan. In a recent post, Akshay shared a video of himself boarding a flight with Vidya Balan, suggesting that they have headed off to Keralam for their next film together.. -ANI PHOTO:ANI