Chef Varun Totlani: one of India’s ‘Most Influential Young Indians’
- Restaurant Masque, Mumbai, India
- #15 in Asia’s Best Restaurant list of 2026
- #68 at World’s 50 Best 2025
More 50 best chefs here. More Indian Chefs here.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Varun Totlani was born and brought up in Mumbai, where, as a child, he’d spend hours watching cooking shows and videos in the hopes of convincing his mother to whip up new recipes. Instead, his own interest in cooking grew, and much to his mother’s relief — he began doing so himself. From then on, the draw towards the kitchen was clear; there was no alternative path to consider.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in New York, Varun met with the Masque founders on his return to Mumbai. He joined the opening team in 2016 as a commis chef, steadily rising through the ranks. He was appointed as Head Chef in 2022, and now also helms the kitchen at Bar Paradox. As a cook, he’s focused on showcasing the diversity of India’s produce and culinary prowess and carrying them forward into the country’s ever-evolving contemporary foodscape.
Varun has been instrumental in Masque winning international glory. The restaurant moved to #15 in Asia’s Best Restaurant list of 2026, in addition to being named the Best Restaurant in India for the fifth consecutive year. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025 ranked Masque at #68, up 10 places from 2024.
In 2025, Conde Nast Traveller named Varun ‘Chef of the Year’, while GQ Magazine named him one of India’s ‘Most Influential Young Indians’. He was also ranked #4 in Culinary Culture’s annual list of the best chefs in India in November 2024. Further, the Best Chef Awards 2025 – a celebration of the world’s culinary elite – has recognised Varun with ‘One Knife’ or an ‘Excellent’ rating.
More 50 best chefs here. More Indian Chefs here. Go back home