Gauri Khan’s Mumbai restaurant, Torii, has denied the claims of using adulterated paneer, saying the allegations are false and based on a misunderstanding of food science. The issue started after a YouTuber posted a video on social media, where he visited several celebrity-owned restaurants in Mumbai and tested their paneer using iodine tincture. The video included visits to Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else.
At each restaurant, the YouTuber applied iodine to paneer samples to check for a colour change, which is commonly believed to indicate the presence of starch.
While no paneer samples reacted at the other restaurants, a dish at Torii turned dark when exposed to iodine.
In the video, the YouTuber claimed, “Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the (Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is selling fake paneer.)!”
Torii, co-owned by interior designer Gauri Khan, soon issued a statement in response, explaining the science behind the reaction.
“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,” the restaurant clarified in the comments section of the viral video.
In a lighthearted follow-up, Sarthak responded to Torii’s clarification with a playful comment, “So am I banned now? Btw your food is amazing.”
Gauri Khan, well-known for her luxury interior design work through Gauri Khan Designs, has designed several restaurants in the past. Torii, one of her recent projects, is known for its stylish ambience and is frequently visited by Bollywood celebrities.