I didn't always want to be a chef: 'India's Mega Festivals' host Gary Mehigan

India is known for its traditions, culture, festivals and, of course, food! To experience the same, chefs Gary Mehigan and Pablo Naranjo Agular, set on a journey to take viewers on a mesmerising voyage through National Geographic India’s latest series titled ‘India’s Mega Festivals’.

Celebrity chef, host and author Gary Mehigan exclusively spoke to IndiaToday.in about the show’s conceptualisation, his journey as a chef and whether he is into Indian films too, along with the food.

Excerpts from the interview:

‘CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEA OF INDIA’S MEGA FESTIVALS’

We spoke to Mehigan about ‘India’s Mega Festivals’. When asked about how the concept came through, he told us, “I can't take credit for coming up with the idea of ‘India’s Mega Festivals’. The guys at National Geographicâ€æ we've worked together before. I might have been a bit of a surprise to be the host of the show. I think originally they were looking for someone young, athletic, adventurous, a bit like Bear Grylls, or somebody like that. But I put my hand up for it and said, ‘Yeah, let's do it!’ I was curious to know why. And they said, because you're enthusiastic, you love India. There's always a sparkle in your eye when you're discovering something new.”

He added, “And once we'd filmed the first episode, I just got lots of compliments about how, because I was thrilled, like I had the best time. That first episode that we filmed last September, which strangely now, has come about. That was just the most wonderful reintroduction to India after two years of lockdowns. It was my first visit back. In National Geographic's usual style, this is all about visual, kind of impactful, storytelling and that means something.”

Gary also said, “This is unique for me, in a sense that it's not all about food. It's about culture, the festival itself, the stories, fables and religions, beliefs and everything that involves. And it's about the interactions, the people that we meet along the way. And then, of course, what connects a lot of that. You can't have an Indian festival without food. It ticks all the boxes for me. We've come up with this first series of six festivals. We've really covered all four corners of India. We've gone from North, South, East, West. It's been an incredible experience.”

Watch the trailer here:

‘I DIDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO BE A CHEF’

Did he always want to become a chef? Gary Mehigan told us, “No, I didn't always want to be a chef. When I was younger, my dad was an engineer; very patient and intelligent. All the things that I'm not. I'm not very patient at all. I need instant gratification. All through school, I really wanted to be like every other boy at my school. You know, an engineer, an architect, a fireman? Who knows, a fighter pilot! There was one period where I wanted to be a pilot. I was about 15 years old, I didn't really connect it at the time.”

Further adding, “My grandfather was a chef and I didn't connect professionally. I didn't think that's what I wanted to do, but my dad actually pointed it out. He said ‘You love cooking with granddad’. My grandfather had retired, so he had lots of time, and he would show my sister and I how to cut an onion or how to make bread or jam. And he said, ‘You really enjoy that. Are you sure you want to be an engineer?’ What my dad identified was that I didn't have the patience or my mindset was I'm far too emotional. And he said ‘But you love what granddad does. Maybe you should do that.’ And I spoke to my grandfather and he said, ‘Before you make a decision, let's get a job, work on the weekends in a kitchen, washing dishes or peeling vegetables and see whether you like how it feels.’ And I loved it!”

He continued, “I got a job in a little hotel that was close by where I lived. Pretty much every weekend for a year and a half, I worked in the kitchens, and I thought the chef was so amazing! Everything he touched and he cooked and created was delicious. And so I made my mind up. That's what I wanted to do. I love the thrill and excitement of creating something under pressure that gets you feedback instantly. Now, about my dad's advice, he said I can work on a project for three months before I get any feedback. It could be a project that is not instantly gratifying in any way. It's very technical. And I go, he was right! Thank goodness for his advice. If I do a service for dinner, I can feed 150 people straightaway.”

‘I DON'T WATCH A LOT OF TELEVISION’

Does Gary follow Indian films too? He replied with all honesty, “Not really. I feel terrible about it, but I don't watch a lot of television, even at home. My wife would say ‘What film do you want to watch?’ And I go, ‘I don't know the one with this guy. I can't remember his name.’ She'd go, ‘What? Sean Penn?’ And I go ‘Yeah, that guy’ because I am just terrible with names. So no, I haven't watched a huge amount of stuff, I'll be honest. For me, I read more than I probably watch. So Hollywood, not so much, but maybe a little bit more history and fiction-around stories.”

‘India’s Mega Festivals’ premiered on National Geographic in India at 8pm on September 6 and the episodes will be aired every Wednesday thereafter.