From Butter Chicken to the Cotswolds: Inside MasterChef star Saransh Goila and Divya Rao’s dreamy proposal

Saransh Goila and Divya Rao proposal

While some romantic tales start with fireworks, others start with something much more straightforward, like a simple plate of rajma chawal. When Saransh Goila of MasterChef India was hosting a pop-up for his now-famous Goila Butter Chicken, it all began in the most unlikely of places: the MissMalini office.

Amid the flurry of non-veg orders, a curious request came from the HR department—a lone vegan meal, “so that one person doesn’t feel left out.” That someone was Divya Rao.

Saransh was so touched by the gesture that he made a vegan rajma chawal with only sincerity and no ghee. He was intrigued by the considerate request and made it a point to meet the individual who made it. Sparks were flying. He was the undeniable king of butter chicken; she was a vegan. Despite their seemingly disparate lifestyles, something clicked. Values matched, conversations flowed, and soon a close friendship developed into something more.

Long drives, impromptu coffee dates, and an amazing first date in Vangani under a meteor shower, complete with wine and wonder, were all natural ways for their romance to develop. Something special was sealed that December night in 2017. They both remember it with fondness: "It was the beginning of something rare."

Fast-forward seven and a half years, and Saransh began plotting a proposal worthy of their story. Operation “THE DAY,” as he called it, saw him teaming up with Visit Britain to orchestrate a surprise in Divya’s dream destination—the Cotswolds. After days spent reminiscing through the streets of London, where their first couple’s trip had taken place, Saransh led Divya to a picturesque bridge in Lower Slaughter, under the guise of a fancy dinner. A hidden photographer captured the moment she said yes—tears, laughter, and all.

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“It was important to me that this proposal reflected our journey,” Saransh shares. “London was where it all began.”

Their story is steeped in serendipity—woven through food, films, shared travels, and the quiet, enduring joy of companionship. What keeps them grounded is a deep-rooted understanding, countless inside jokes, and their two beloved cats, Rumi and Skittles.

“I often think, what if I hadn’t made that vegan meal that day?” Saransh muses. “It feels like destiny.”