A Royal Bloodline, A Rebellious Spirit: How Asma Khan Changed the Culinary World

Asma Khan—Michelin-starred chef, activist, and the woman who turned rejection into revolution sits down with Danielle Robay. Born into an Indian royal bloodline, Asma was told from birth that she was a disappointment—too dark, too fat, too unworthy. The extended family dismissed her. She was never meant to be a leader. But that’s exactly what she became.

Now, she is the force behind Darjeeling Express, a London restaurant run entirely by South Asian immigrant women—home cooks, nannies, and housewives who had never worked in professional kitchens before.

In this episode, Asma shares:

• The one sentence her sister told her as a child that changed her life forever

• Why she refuses to scream in the kitchen—and what male chefs get wrong about food

• How Darjeeling Express began in her home and became an international success

• The painful truth about losing friends after success (and how she knew it was time to walk away)

• How she convinced a banker to fund her dream—after getting laughed out of the room

• The surprising person who saved her when she hit rock bottom

• Why she chose to hire only South Asian immigrant women—and how they built something powerful together

• Why her scars are her greatest source of power

• The Hollywood A-lister who surprised her with bagels and became an unexpected friend\

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