Madhur Jaffrey

Madhur Jaffrey (born August 13, 1933) is an Indian-born actress, food writer, and television personality. She is best known for her cookbooks and television shows focused on Indian cuisine, and is often credited with introducing the Western world to the diverse flavors and techniques of Indian cooking.

Madhur Jaffrey

Early Life and Education

• Madhur Jaffrey was born in Delhi, India, to a well-educated and affluent family. She developed an early interest in food and cooking through her mother's kitchen. Jaffrey attended the prestigious Miranda House at the University of Delhi, where she studied English literature and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1955, she moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where she received a diploma in acting.

Acting Career

• Jaffrey began her acting career in the late 1950s, both on stage and in film. Her first major film role was in the 1965 British drama Shakespeare Wallah, directed by James Ivory, which earned her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 15th Berlin International Film Festival. Jaffrey has since appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions, including Heat and Dust (1983), A Passage to India (1984), and Cotton Mary (1999).

Culinary Career

• Jaffrey's culinary career began when a publisher asked her to write an Indian cookbook for a Western audience. Her first cookbook, An Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973), was well-received and marked the beginning of a long and successful career as a food writer. Jaffrey has since published numerous cookbooks, including Madhur Jaffrey's World-of-the-East Vegetarian Cooking (1981) and Madhur Jaffrey's Quick & Easy Indian Cooking (1996).
• In addition to her cookbooks, Jaffrey has hosted several television cooking shows, most notably the BBC series Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery (1982), which further popularized Indian cuisine in the UK and beyond.

Personal Life

• Jaffrey was married to Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey from 1958 to 1965, with whom she has three daughters. In 1969, she married American violinist and conductor Sanford Allen, to whom she is still married.

Awards and Honors

• Jaffrey has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, both for her acting and culinary accomplishments. These include the James Beard Foundation Award for International Cooking (1994), the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to drama and promotion of Indian food and culture (2004), and the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors (2008).

Selected Works

• An Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973)
• Madhur Jaffrey's World-of-the-East Vegetarian Cooking (1981)
• Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery (1982)
• Madhur Jaffrey's Quick & Easy Indian Cooking (1996)
• Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Nation (201

See also

• Indian cuisine
• Cookbook author
• Television personality

External Links

• Madhur Jaffrey's Official Website
• Madhur Jaffrey on IMDb
• The Guardian: Madhur Jaffrey interview

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