In a viral investigation video, YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva questioned the quality of paneer being served at some of Mumbai’s most glamorous and celebrity-owned restaurants. His iodine test method aimed to uncover whether diners were being served real or adulterated cottage cheese, and the results have since sparked a major online debate.
Restaurant Hopping With Iodine Drops
Sarthak began his culinary test tour at Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, followed by visits to Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else. In each case, he ordered paneer dishes, peeled off the outer coating, dipped the pieces in water, and added iodine tincture to test for starch—often used to fake or dilute paneer.
While all three eateries passed his test, things took a dramatic turn at Gauri Khan’s restaurant, Torii. Upon dropping iodine on the paneer served there, the piece reportedly turned dark, a typical reaction for starch presence.
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“Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye,” Sarthak said in his vlog, visibly stunned.
He also posted the clip on Instagram with the caption: “Fake paneer?”
Torii Defends Its Ingredients
Torii, the upscale eatery co-owned by Gauri Khan, didn’t waste time in responding to the accusations. The restaurant stated in the comments: “The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our ingredients at Torii.”
Social Media Reacts
The video triggered a flurry of reactions online. While some users praised Sarthak’s initiative, others raised concerns about the method and possible legal implications. “Bhai ka concept day by day,” one fan commented.
Another joked, “I mean how much did you pay for each fancy restaurant?”
However, others cautioned him, saying, “Do you know they can file a complaint against you for unnecessarily defaming their business?”
A different user quipped, “It’s not like Gauri goes grocery shopping for her restaurant.”
