Gauri Khan, the well-known interior designer and wife of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is currently in the middle of an unexpected controversy involving her stylish Pan-Asian restaurant, Torii, located in Mumbai’s upscale Pali Hill, Bandra. The restaurant, famous for its stunning interiors and high-end crowd, has been accused of serving “fake paneer” by popular food YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva.
YouTuber Accuses Torii of Serving Adulterated Paneer
Sarthak Sachdeva, known for his food review videos on YouTube, recently visited Torii and decided to test the quality of the paneer (cottage cheese) served there. In his viral video, he used the iodine tincture method—a common but controversial way to check for starch in food. According to Sarthak, the iodine turned the paneer a blue-black color, which often signals the presence of starch, leading him to conclude that the paneer was not pure.
In a surprising statement during the video, Sarthak said,
“Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the!”
(“The paneer at Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant was fake. I was completely shocked when I saw that!”)
To make the video even more interesting, he also tested paneer at other celebrity-owned restaurants like Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, and Bobby Deol’s restaurant. He claimed that none of those samples showed signs of starch and passed the iodine test, making Torii the only one under question.
Torii Restaurant Reacts Strongly
As the video gained traction and people started sharing their opinions on social media, the team at Torii wasted no time in responding. They addressed the issue directly in the comments section of Sarthak’s video. Torii’s management denied the accusation, explaining that the iodine test does not prove whether paneer is real or fake.
In their statement, Torii said:
“As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction was expected. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of Torii.”
This means that the reaction seen in the iodine test could have been due to soy ingredients in the dish, not because the paneer was adulterated.
Sarthak Keeps It Light
Even though his video sparked a debate online, Sarthak maintained a light-hearted tone in his responses. He joked,
“So am I banned now? Btw your food is amazing.”
He even expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, saying,
“SRK is my idol. It’s a dream to meet him once. Will I be able to meet him ever after this?”
Conclusion
While social media continues to buzz with mixed reactions, Torii’s management is standing firm on their explanation. They believe the iodine test is not a reliable way to judge food quality and remain confident in their food standards.
As for the viewers and food lovers, the debate between science and viral trends continues. One thing’s for sure—Torii is now the talk of the town, for reasons no one saw coming.
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