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\
Follow Asma Khan here