In the age of social media, one viral video is all it takes to shake up even the glitziest celebrity ventures.
That’s exactly what happened after a food review reel by 19-year-old influencer Sarthak Sachdeva made waves online. Known for his quirky and daring food content, Sachdeva recently took his iodine-based “real vs fake paneer” test to some of Mumbai’s most high-profile celebrity-owned restaurants—and it’s his latest stop that’s got everyone talking.
Sarthak, who boasts over 500,000 Instagram followers, has been on a mission to test the authenticity of paneer served at posh eateries. Using the now-viral iodine test, which supposedly reacts with starch in synthetic paneer, he began his series with visits to Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else. All of these restaurants passed his test with flying colors.
However, when he arrived at Gauri Khan’s newly launched restaurant, Torii—first seen in the limelight through Netflix’s Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives—the narrative changed. In the video, Sachdeva ordered an upscale paneer dish and performed the test on camera. The results, according to him, suggested that the paneer was not authentic. The video, posted just a day ago, has already crossed 5.5 million views and sparked a wildfire of opinions online.
While some users lauded Sarthak’s courage, calling him “brave” for questioning a celebrity establishment, others were quick to call him out. Critics argued that Gauri Khan herself cannot be held responsible for ingredient sourcing. “Just because it’s her restaurant doesn’t mean she’s at the supermarket buying groceries,” one user commented.
Another netizen added, “Sometimes starch residues from packaging or preparation can create misleading results. Get it tested in a lab before putting up such accusations.” Some even cautioned him about possible legal repercussions for publicly challenging a business without scientific backing, especially one tied to someone as high-profile as Shah Rukh Khan.
Despite the backlash, Sachdeva’s video continues to trend across social platforms, triggering conversations about food quality, celebrity accountability, and influencer ethics. While Torii has yet to respond to the allegations, the incident has certainly brought renewed attention to the restaurant—and perhaps not the kind it was hoping for.
As the debate rages on, one thing’s clear: in the digital age, even paneer can be controversial.
