On a very hot afternoon in March, we drove down to the sets of MasterChef India Season 7 in Malad, wondering about the beautiful camaraderie between judges—chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Garima Arora. The show is about to wrap up and since viewers have had their eyes glued to the television, we know a few hearts could break.

Will it be the boy from a village in Assam, Nayanjyoti Saikia, who has learnt everything about food through Instagram? Or fun-loving Gurkirat Singh, whose appetite for life shows in his food? Or will it be Ludhiana mommy Kamaldeep Kaur, whose knack for breaking down flavours takes the audience by surprise? There’s Santa Sarma, whom everyone loves for showing us Assamese cuisine and culture. Who will win? Only time will tell. We got chatting with the judges about their favourite moments and recipes of the season while the contestants bonded over lunchtime beguiling the gruelling and competitive challenges they have had to ensure to show their mettle.