This page often sees singers, actors, industrialists and sportspersons vying for space. But a super-chef like Sanjeev Kapoor, who revolutionised TV cooking through Khana Khazana, and thereby himself a South Asian household name, is rare. So what does he think about driving and cars, considering he has three lovely specimens?

"There's one essential similarity between cooking and driving. Both need good application of mind - if you are smart, and you play safe, you'll succeed. Simple as that."

"My first car was a Premier Padmini. As I graduated in life, so did my cars. I bought a Maruti 800, then an Indica, next was this Accent and recently an Esteem. Before buying the Accent, I test-drove all other options, including the City and the Lancer. I figured out that considering my priorities of comfort, reliability and value-for-money, the Accent was the best choice. I have no regrets, except that the ground clearance is a bit low when the rear is fully loaded. Apart from that, the Accent is supremely comfortable, and the suspension soaks up pretty much everything.

Anyway, it's not as if you're marrying your car - unlike a lot of people, I am not emotional about cars, but very practical. Buying a car is an investment, and you should let your head rule your heart, and not the other way around."

Sanjeev's love for food and cars is shared by his wife and two little daughters, one seven and the other four. While the lady of the house would love to own a 'Beemer from Bavaria', the kids want a "...big 'gaadi' like a Pajero or a Mercedes van (MB100) so that everybody (all cousins and uncles) can travel together".
Between the Accent and the Esteem, which car do the young ones prefer? "Well, when the new Esteem joined the family, that was the obvious choice for sometime. But now I find that allegiance is shifting back to daddy's Accent!"

Sanjeev, or 'Chef' as he is addressed by his staff at indiancookery.com, has fond memories of New Zealand where he spent some years. And one scary memory involving a car...

"I was working in Wellington, New Zealand, some years ago. There was a cricket match in New Plymouth, and since Sachin was playing, my friends and I decided to go for it. After the match, we realised we were running late for work. The only option was a race home in my Daihatsu Charade.

"Highways in New Zealand are wide and expansive, and traffic sparce. Initially, we started overtaking two cars at a time, then three and even four. Then the challenge was to overtake five cars in one move! I was at the wheel, and gathering sufficient speed and courage, we managed to do it. But what happened next was simply numbing.... you see, Wellington is known as the Windy City. And because of the wind and probably the speed, the Charade actually shifted a lane. That was scary."

For a man who has been around the world spreading the message of Indian food, any dream cars from other parts of the world?

"I've driven a Porsche in New Zealand, a Bentley in Dubai, and a truck in Rajasthan. But I would look at a car only from the perspective of owning it, and as of now, the Sonata is extremely desirable. I feel it is extremely good VFM and after test driving the Gold version, I felt totally wrapped in luxury and comfort. If only I had enough parking space, I would buy it right now. Till then, the Sonata remains in my dreams."