Contestants from the last edition of MasterChef India are set to team up with participants from the ongoing season of the cooking reality show in an interesting “twist” that promises to offer a fusion of talent from the two seasons of the show in tonight’s episode, to stream on SonyLIV at 8pm.

According to the makers of the show, the top six contestants from the previous season will team up with six of the nine contestants of the ongoing season, bringing their experience and ideas to the table. Contestants Nambie Jessica Marak, Kenneth G, and Subhojit Sen will not participate in this task as they have secured safety in the competition.

Suraj Thapa will team up with ex-contestant Kamaldeep Kaur (KDK) to transform bitter gourd into a culinary masterpiece. Nidhi Sharma and Aruna Vijay will have to work their magic with tamarind, while Rukhsaar Sayeed and Santa Sarmah will tackle maan dhaniya (coriander).

Kriti Dhiman and Gurkirat Singh will be experimenting with assorted berries. Harish Closepet will be joining forces with Suvarna Bagul to infuse the flavours of green chillies into their dish. Mohammed Aashiq will partner with Nayanjyoti Saikia, the winner of a previous MasterChef India season, to create a dish using fermented soybeans.

“The return of our ex-contestants added an incredible twist to the competition. They brought their invaluable experiences to the table, and creativity in the kitchen was at an all-time high. Witnessing the fusion of this season’s talent with the expertise of previous seasons was a sight to behold. It was inspiring to see these culinary forces unite and create masterpieces on a plate,” said chef Vikas Khanna, one of the judges on the show.

Last season’s winner Nayanjyoti Saikia said, “Winning MasterChef India was a turning point in my life. I am on the path to opening my own restaurant, and this competition has also changed my father’s perception of me. Working on this challenge with the home cooks has been an enriching experience, and I believe it will push them to new heights in their culinary journey.”

KDK, another ex-contestant, spoke about her journey, “MasterChef India has given me an identity. The exposure has been immense, and I have been flooded with collaboration requests. This challenge was a rollercoaster ride, and I cherished every moment spent with the home cooks. I believe all of them have a lot of potential to make their mark in the culinary world,” she said.