A heartwarming moment between Nita Ambani and celebrity chef Vikas Khanna at the TIME100 Summit in New York has captured attention online. The interaction came shortly after Khanna was named among the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026.
During the exchange, Ambani presented him with a peacock-shaped brooch from her initiative Swadesh, symbolising India’s national bird and its rich artistic legacy. Khanna was also seen touching Ambani’s feet as she felicitated him and personally pinned the intricately designed brooch onto his outfit.
Sharing the video on Instagram, Khanna reflected on the significance of the moment. “As I walk to the TIME100 ceremony tomorrow, I carry generations of artisans and kitchen stories within me,” he wrote.
“I feel deeply honored to wear India’s National Bird, the Peacock, through this beautiful brooch by @swadesh_online, gifted by Nita Ambani… It celebrates handmade crafts, timeless traditions, and the stories of our villages, turning them into sustainable livelihoods and modern expressions of luxury,” he added, praising the Swadesh initiative for empowering Indian artisans.
“For me, it is not just about preserving the past, it is about carrying it forward with pride,” he said.
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Vikas Khanna in TIME100 2026
Notably, chef Vikas Khanna has been named by TIME Magazine in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Speaking with PTI from New York earlier this month, the celebrity chef called the honour ‘a very big moment for India’.
Khanna featured among global names in the arts category, including Ralph Lauren and Victoria Beckham.
The broader TIME100 list also includes actor Ranbir Kapoor, Sundar Pichai, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, US President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
