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