Influencer Claims Gauri Khan's Upscale Restaurant Torii Serves 'Fake Paneer,' They Respond

Gauri Khan’s Mumbai restaurant Torii is facing backlash after a viral video claimed it served 'fake paneer' based on an iodine test.
  • Amit Diwan
  • Editorial
  • Updated - 2025-04-17, 17:18 IST
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Gauri Khan, renowned interior designer and wife of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, finds her Mumbai-based restaurant, Torii, under scrutiny following allegations of serving 'fake paneer.' The controversy erupted after a viral video by 19-year-old influencer Sarthak Sachdeva, who conducted an iodine test, a method used to detect starch adulteration on paneer dishes from several celebrity-owned restaurants.

Gauri Khan's Restaurant Torii Serves 'Fake Paneer'?

In his video, Sachdeva visited several well-known restaurants, including Virat Kohli's One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty's Bastian, and Bobby Deol's Someplace Else. The paneer at these places reportedly passed the iodine test, showing no colour change. However, at Torii, the paneer turned blue-black after applying iodine, suggesting the presence of starch.

Sachdeva expressed his surprise, saying in Hindi, "Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the" (The paneer served at Shah Rukh Khan's restaurant turned out to be fake. It blew my mind).

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Torii's Response: Standing by Ingredient Integrity

Torii's official Instagram account addressed the allegations, stating, "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."

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Further elaborating, the restaurant emphasised its commitment to quality, "From sourcing our produce to the food being served on the plate to our patrons, there are quality checks at every step of the way. Our commitment to excellence in the food we serve remains unwavered."

Iodine Test For Fake Paneer

The iodine test is a simple method used to check for starch in food. When iodine drops are added to a sample, it turns blue-black if starch is present. However, food experts say this test isn't always accurate, especially in dishes made with soy or other ingredients that naturally contain starch, which can cause a similar reaction.

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Image Courtesy: @toriimumbai/Instagram

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