With her signature warmth and infectious energy, Delnaaz Irani is now serving up more than just performances—she’s dishing out heartfelt conversations, celebrity banter, and irresistible food through her new YouTube series Swaad Aur Sitare With Delnaaz. In a candid conversation with The Pioneer, Delnaaz opens up about her love for food, the joy of unscripted storytelling, and why this series is her warm hug to the world
Highlighted quote: I proudly say I can’t use chopsticks. I genuinely believe food should be eaten the way you enjoy it. Food is the most universal language of love
Tejal Sinha
What do you get when you mix the warmth of Delnaaz Irani, the sparkle of celebrity stories, and a table full of mouthwatering food? You get Swaad Aur Sitare With Delnaaz—a show that feels less like content and more like comfort. Think of it as a friendly food hangout where the laughter is genuine, the plates are overflowing, and the conversations are sprinkled with nostalgia, honesty, and spice.
Delnaaz, who has lit up screens for decades with her infectious energy, now brings that same joy to a new table—quite literally. In her brand-new YouTube series, she visits restaurants across Mumbai with her celebrity friends, trying everything from sushi to sizzlers, while serving up deliciously candid conversations. The show kicks off with comic powerhouse Kiku Sharda at Goma Radisson, and more recently, welcomes the effervescent Nyrraa M Banerji for a flavour-packed catch-up.
But this isn’t a stiff food review or any celebrity chat—it’s something warmer. Delnaaz doesn’t hide the fact that she can’t use chopsticks and she doesn’t try to act like a food connoisseur. She’s simply a foodie at heart, curious and full of zest, savoring every dish with childlike excitement. The result? A show that feels like sitting down with your favourite people for a long, laughter-filled lunch.
The series kicked off with a heartwarming and hilarious episode featuring comedian Kiku Sharda at Goma Radisson, a chic pan-Asian restaurant. From Tom Kha soup to Salmon Avocado Sushi and Rock Shrimp Tempura, the duo dove headfirst into an elaborate Japanese spread. But what truly stood out—beyond the delicious bites—was the warmth of their camaraderie. Delnaaz’s genuine reactions, infectious laughter, and wide-eyed curiosity made the episode not only engaging but also deeply comforting. Her playful confession that she doesn’t know how to use chopsticks—and is unapologetically proud of it—set the tone for a show rooted in authenticity.
For Delnaaz, the idea behind Swaad Aur Sitare wasn’t just another project—it was a passion-driven leap. “The title just felt like the perfect blend of what the show stands for—good food (swaad) and celebrated personalities (sitare),” she shared. The catchy jingle for the show was created by Percy Karkaria, her longtime partner, and had everyone humming at the launch. “I’ve always been a big foodie and someone who loves feeding people. For me, conversations and food go hand-in-hand.”
Unlike typical chat shows that tend to dig into controversies or personal drama, Swaad Aur Sitare was born out of Delnaaz’s desire to bring joy. “In today’s world, where social media can be harsh and bad news is around every corner, I wanted to create something light, warm, and uplifting,” she said. Her goal was simple: to create an unscripted, feel-good food series that celebrates bonding over a shared meal.
Interestingly, her plunge into this food-meets-lifestyle format came at a transitional point in her acting career. “I’m currently a part of Mannat on Colors, but the track shifted and I had a bit of breathing space. Alongside TV, I also continue doing theatre, which usually takes place on weekends. So when I found myself with a relatively free month, I thought—why not use this time productively?” That’s when the vision for the show became real. She quickly reached out to friends, locked dates, and filmed 15 episodes back-to-back. “I’m someone who cannot sit idle. I need to keep working, creating, doing something exciting—and YouTube gave me that freedom and creative space.”
Starting the series with Kiku Sharda, an old friend and co-actor, was a natural choice. While the laughs were abundant, it was a deeper moment that stuck with her. “Kiku was talking about Akbar-Birbal where his room was always stocked with food and open to everyone. He also shared how on the sets of the show, he kept a fridge full of food for everyone. That’s when it struck me—this show isn’t just about food; it’s about the kind of people who make others feel at home through food.”
In an unexpected twist, Delnaaz found herself introducing new dishes to Kiku. “He’s someone who won’t recognize ingredients, but he’ll always know whether something tastes good or not,” she laughed. Kiku did offer his own slice of trivia—his love for the vada pav near Siddhivinayak Temple and how he doesn’t have a fancy palate but loves what hits the spot.
Naturally, with a spread of over 30 dishes, plenty of hilarious behind-the-scenes moments didn’t make it to the final cut. “We were fumbling with chopsticks, reacting dramatically to strong flavors—it was mad fun!” she shared. But one thing she doesn’t pretend to know is how to use chopsticks. “I proudly say I can’t use chopsticks! I genuinely believe food should be eaten the way you enjoy it. Many of our guests said the same thing—they ate with their hands and said it’s the most beautiful thing about Indian culture.”
When asked if there’s any cuisine that still intimidates her, Delnaaz laughed, “Not at all. If there’s tandoori chicken, I’ll break it open and relish it! Food is meant to be enjoyed, not to look dainty around.”
Her adventurous food spirit has been with her since college. “I was that friend who would go try the oddest-looking stall just to taste something new. During one trip to Bangkok, I tried the weirdest dishes just out of curiosity. I may not always love it, but I want to know what it tastes like.”
Some flavors, though, are deeply rooted in nostalgia. “Dhansak—hands down. And it has to be made with the kadha masala. My mom made it every Sunday. That aroma, that blend of spices—it’s home in a bowl for me.”
At its core, Swaad Aur Sitare isn’t just about delicious dishes. It’s about the emotional resonance food holds. “Food is the most universal language of love,” Delnaaz said. “You can talk about anything when you’re sharing a meal. Even strangers start opening up when they share a dish. Food unlocks memories, feelings, and creates this beautiful space for real, heartfelt conversations.”
While the show is largely light-hearted, Delnaaz noted that some episodes took unexpected emotional turns. “Some guests did share very honest, even hard-hitting thoughts. Those moments caught me off guard but in the best way. They’re part of upcoming episodes, and I think the audience will really feel the depth behind the laughs.”
In a recent episode, Delnaaz was joined by actress Nyrraa M Banerji. The two explored a fresh set of dishes while diving into a lively, feel-good chat—yet another example of how this show blends taste and togetherness so effortlessly.
Asked about her dream episode, she doesn’t hesitate: “Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan—my Kal Ho Naa Ho stars. That film was such a big part of my journey. Imagine that table—so much laughter, so many stories, and of course, delicious food!”
Delnaaz also personally curates the restaurants for each episode. While the series mostly covers eateries between Borivali and Bandra, she discovered gems like Bustle, a pure vegetarian restaurant in Borivali. “I had three guests on that episode and the food was so good, you didn’t miss non-veg at all.”
Future episodes will feature a variety of regional Indian cuisines including Maharashtrian, Kerala, Irani, seafood, and even health-focused meals. “Right now, the show’s concept doesn’t include home-cooked meals—it’s more about exploring restaurant culture and the celebrity’s food preferences,” she explained. And she puts a lot of thought into pairing the guest with the cuisine. “Apara Mehta Ji is vegetarian, so we went to Maharaja Bhog for a royal thali. Kiku loves pan-Asian, so I took him to GOMA at Radisson. Yesha Rughani wanted something light, so we picked Collin’s Café. Shilpa Shirodkar loves seafood, so we went to Meen Curry in Andheri.”
So what fuels this dynamo, juggling television, theatre, and now digital content creation? “My love for work,” she says with a smile. “I’ve never liked sitting idle. Whether it’s doing a play over the weekend, shooting for a serial, or now creating my own content—I thrive when I’m busy. Percy has always encouraged me to try something new, and Swaad Aur Sitare was the perfect outlet for that. As long as I’m learning and creating, I’m happy.”
