Madhur Jaffrey Biography 
Madhur Jaffrey is an actress, food and travel writer, and television personality of Indian origin. She is best known for introducing Indian cuisine to outer world, especially the Americans, and she earned instant recognition through her cookery book, An Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973). It was her debut book on dishes, and this book was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2006. Later she published over a dozen of cookery books and also presented dishes for many television channels in US and other foreign countries. Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery (1982) is yet another famous book in culinary art. She also works as food consultant at Dawat, an Indian restaurant in US. Madhur was the first wife of Hindi actor, Saeed Jaffrey, and she retained the surname after divorce.
She was born in Delhi to Indian parents. Her maiden name is Madhur Bahadur and she was born in 1933. During her younger days she remained a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and his Khadi movement. As a child Madhur spent some time each day spinning khadi and delivered in Delhi as well. At home, her family ate food prepared by servants but supervised by the ladies of the family. From 1950 to 1953 Madhur attended Miranda House and completed her graduation. She was associated with stage plays since then. Years later she was instrumental in bringing together film makers James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, and acted in several of their films such as Shakespeare Wallah (1965). Later she almost concentrated on her culinary art publishing many books.
She married Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey in 1958 and got separated 8 years later. Three daughters are born in this wedlock, of whom their youngest daughter Sakina Jaffrey earned fame as an American actress. Later she married Sanford Allen, an African-American classical violinist in 1939. Madhur served as food and travel writer, and television personality since early 1970s.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 10, 2018
