Venice Winner Deepak Rauniyar’s ‘The Taste of Salt,’ Inspired by ‘MasterChef’ Star, Debuts at Berlinale Co-Production Market

“The Taste of Salt,” a narrative feature from Deepak Rauniyar inspired by the life of renowned Nepali chef Santosh Shah, has debuted at the 2026 Berlinale Co-Production Market.

Rauniyar’s 2016 feature “White Sun” won the Interfilm Award at Venice Film Festival, while his most recent film, “Pooja, Sir,” premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

The culinary coming-of-age story traces a journey from childhood hunger in Nepal’s Madhes region to the high-stakes world of global fine dining in London. Set across Nepal, India and the U.K., the film explores themes of migration, caste and exile through the universal language of food.

The project brings together two production houses: Kathmandu and Boston-based Aadi Films, co-founded by director Rauniyar and producer Asha Magrati, and U.K.-based Film and Music Entertainment, led by veteran producer Sam Taylor.

Taylor’s credits include some 75 features, including the Oscar-nominated “Before the Rain.” “Deepak has a cinematic voice that sings with clarity,” Taylor said. “‘The Taste of Salt’ will feature an A-list star and is the next step in his creative journey. He remains true to the story as the film is based on real life both that of Chef Santosh, and his own.”

Chef Shah, whose rise to fame on “MasterChef: The Professionals” captivated global audiences, sees the selection as a victory for Nepali heritage.

“I never imagined that my personal journey from Nepal to the world would become a film embraced by the international festival circuit even before its completion,” Shah said. “It is a powerful reminder that authentic stories, rooted in culture, can resonate globally. This film is not only my biography, it is a tribute to Nepal’s culinary heritage and the resilience behind it. I was already proud that my story is being taught in school curriculums in Nepal, but this early recognition at a top global festival is the next step. My mother will be proud.”

Rauniyar emphasized the timeliness of the story. “At a time when migration and identity are under attack worldwide, I feel an urgency to tell this story,” the director said. “‘The Taste of Salt’ is about denied citizenship, home and the everyday cost of exclusion.”

The film will follow Ram, a 30-year-old Nepal-born chef living in London, who lands an audition for “MasterChef.” Raised in the disenfranchised Madhesi community and sent to India alone at age 7, Ram navigates identity and belonging while climbing the culinary ranks. The story explores his relationship with Rita, a single mother from a more privileged background, and his ultimate journey back to Nepal.

Film and Music Entertainment was founded by Taylor in 2000 and has produced over 75 features with over 120 European production companies, winning multiple awards at Venice, Berlin, Sundance and Cannes.

Production is slated to begin in spring 2027. The feature will be shot in English and Nepalese.