Puri, Jan 31: A former councillor of Puri town in Odisha and her sister have secured a place in the final round of MasterChef India, one of the country’s most popular cooking reality shows.

Anju Pradhan, former councillor of Ward No. 9 of Puri Municipality, and her sister Manju Ojha are among the top 12 contestants selected for the finals of the show, which is being telecast on Sony Entertainment Television. The finalists were chosen from nearly 100 contestants through a rigorous four-phase selection process.

The duo impressed the judges with their dish, Fish Wellington, an elegant culinary creation that earned high praise from the show’s three judges—Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.

Anju, who is married to Gourahari Pradhan, a member of a Jagannath Temple servitor’s family, highlighted Odisha’s rich food tradition. “We belong to a Jagannath temple servitor’s family. Several delicacies are offered to Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple. Odisha is known for its rich culinary heritage,” she said. Notably, Anju follows a strict vegetarian diet.

During an interaction with Anju, judge Ranveer Brar shared his fondness for the Mahaprasad of the Puri Jagannath Temple. “I had the opportunity to partake in the Mahaprasad during my visit to the 12th-century shrine,” he said.

The final round of MasterChef India will be telecast from 9 pm on February 5.