Happy to have reached the hearts and kitchens of many, celebrity chef Harpal Singh Sokhi is thrilled to have crossed one million followers on Instagram. He says it is overwhelming to receive such love from people.

“Reaching one million followers has taken quite a lot of time, but first and foremost, I want to thank all the people who have supported me in achieving this milestone. To my Instagram family, thank you so much for your constant support. I’m also grateful to everyone who has encouraged me in various ways. It’s a truly happy feeling, and I believe that one should keep working hard without worrying too much about the outcome. I think it’s best to let people on social media decide how much love they want to show. That’s the mindset I follow. I create content without stressing over the final results. Of course, every achievement is special, and this one definitely makes me feel happy,” he says.

When asked why he thinks people love his videos, he says, “People love my videos and content because I create only genuine and honest videos. I want to share all the knowledge I’ve gained over time and be transparent in passing on whatever I know. I’m also open to accepting when something is wrong because I believe life is a continuous learning process, and acknowledging mistakes is important. All my videos are made with complete heart, soul, and sincerity. I remember when I first started making videos, especially recipes like butter chicken, paneer butter masala, and chicken tikka masala.”

He adds, “People from around the world tried these recipes at home and shared how their families loved them. Many even said the dishes turned out better than what they had at nearby restaurants. It’s an incredibly joyful and proud feeling to hear such feedback. Knowing that people recreate my recipes at home and achieve great results makes the connection between me and my viewers even more special. It’s truly a wonderful experience!”

Talking about his signature ‘Namak Chamak’ style of cooking, he says, “Yes, ‘Namak Chamak’ is a phrase that I often call the anthem of food in our country. I believe that if you want to bring happiness into your home and enjoy cooking, just add a pinch of Namak Chamak. When the family is gathered around the dining table and someone notices that the food needs a little more salt, just saying ‘Namak Chamak’ lightens the mood. It brings smiles to everyone’s faces and makes the meal even more delicious. That’s the kind of joy it creates, and I consider it my biggest achievement.”

He adds, “There’s a long story behind how I achieved this. I remember when I first went for a shoot for Namak Chamak, and we were filming some trial videos. During that time, my director asked me a simple question: ‘Harpal Ji, how would you like to be remembered after you’re gone?’ I didn’t have an answer. Later at home, I was sitting thoughtfully when my younger daughter noticed and asked what was wrong. I explained the situation to her. While we were talking, I noticed a book titled Mahatma lying on her bed. My daughter loves reading, so I picked it up out of curiosity. Randomly flipping through the pages, I came across a chapter about the Satyagraha Movement.

“As I started reading, I became deeply engrossed. The chapter described how Gandhiji initiated the freedom struggle with a simple yet powerful act—the Salt Satyagraha. He chose salt, an everyday ingredient, to challenge British rule. It was astonishing how something so ordinary could create such a massive impact. That moment was an eye-opener for me. Just like Gandhiji used salt to spark a movement, I realized the power of simplicity and connection in what I was doing with Namak Chamak. It wasn’t just about cooking; it was about spreading joy and bringing people together.”