Renowned chef Dr. K. Damodaran lovingly known as Chef Damu recently made a public appearance in a wheelchair, sparking concern and curiosity among fans. Just weeks after being awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the 70-year-old culinary maestro was seen attending events and TV shoots, including his entry on Cooku with Comali, while seated in a wheelchair.

The reason? A recent knee surgery. Yet, true to his spirit, Chef Damu remained undeterred, proving once again that no obstacle can dim his passion for the culinary arts.

From humble beginnings to becoming a Guinness World Record holder, Chef Damu’s journey is a reminder of relentless perseverance, continuous learning, and the courage to defy societal expectations.

Though his early love for cooking was met with resistance especially from his mother, who urged him to choose a more “stable” path, Chef Damu carved his own destiny, starting as a trainee at Taj Mumbai, enduring long hours and physical strain in the cold storage rooms. Over the decades, he reinvented himself multiple times: chef, educator, principal of a hotel management college, TV personality, author of over 25 cookbooks, and a respected leader in the industry.

Today, he holds a PhD in Catering Science and serves as the President of the South India Chefs Association (SICA), mentoring aspiring chefs and uplifting South Indian cuisine on global platforms. Despite undergoing surgery, Chef Damu continues to inspire millions, not just with his recipes, but with his resilience.

His unwavering commitment to culinary excellence, even while recovering in a wheelchair, is a powerful reminder that passion knows no age, no limits. Chef Damu proves that legends don’t slow down; they simply adapt and rise higher.

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Source / Image Credit : RedNool , indiranpandiyan