The people behind the experience, one story at a time.
Chronicles of a Chef is an immersive documentary series told in the format of A Day With. Each episode runs seven to nine minutes and follows a single day in the life of someone who has built their career in the industry, from professional kitchens and hotel operations to family-run establishments and generational hospitality businesses. The tone is cinematic and calm, documentary and conversational in style.
Every episode moves through five arc moments: Arrival and Intention, Morning Rituals and Preparation, the Mental and Emotional Craft of Hospitality, Service in Motion, and Reflection After Service. Two signature segments anchor each episode: Off the Pass and Off the Floor.
Dubai, present day. Bahrain, 1992. Two moments in time. One unbroken thread. The first episode of Chronicles of a Chef follows Monal Malhotra through a journey that spans decades, borders, and the quiet truth at the heart of every hospitality career.
Some things cannot be taught. They can only be lived.
Monal Malhotra is a hospitality leader based in Dubai, UAE, serving as Executive Producer at Chronicles of a Chef.
With more than four decades of leadership across luxury hotels, professional kitchens, and pre-opening environments in India and the UAE, his career spans culinary direction, operational governance, food safety program development, and multi-property team structuring for internationally recognized hospitality brands.
At Chronicles of a Chef, Monal brings the lived experience and perspective that forms the foundation of every episode.
Sorav Malhotra is a multidisciplinary strategist based in Dubai, UAE, serving as Executive Producer at Chronicles of a Chef.
With over a decade of experience across hospitality, wellness, and digital infrastructure, his work spans loyalty program transformation, CRM ecosystem design, digital platform development, and sustainability integration across hospitality and wellness ventures.
At Chronicles of a Chef, Sorav shapes the strategic and content framework that brings each episode from concept to screen.
Rashmi Malhotra is a spiritualist based in Dubai, UAE, serving as Executive Producer and Strategic and Energetics Advisor at Chronicles of a Chef.
A Reiki Grand Master and certified Bach Flower Therapist, her work spans energy healing, emotional alignment, and conscious intention, bringing depth and grounding to every project she is part of.
At Chronicles of a Chef, Rashmi shapes the spiritual and strategic dimension of the series, ensuring that every story is told with clarity, balance, and intentional purpose.
A.P. Advik Arora is an Indian filmmaker based in Dubai, UAE, serving as Creative Director, Visual Development and Storytelling at Chronicles of a Chef.
Having begun making films at the age of seven, he has since built a diverse directorial portfolio spanning short films, commercials, web series, documentaries, and a feature film currently in development.
Alongside directing, A.P. Advik Arora holds a strong interest in cinematography and has served as Director of Photography on multiple short films, bringing a distinct visual sensibility to each project.
Harsh Purohit is an Indian filmmaker based in Dubai, UAE, serving as Creative Director, Narrative Design and Writing at Chronicles of a Chef.
Harsh explores narrative themes through surrealistic storytelling, often using otherworldly elements to convey ideas with greater nuance and depth.
Along with weaving together the narratives for the series, he oversees various creative and logistical facets of the production.
A.V. Muhammad is a Dubai-based filmmaker, editor, colorist, and multimedia storyteller with a strong foundation in post-production, cinematic craft, and digital media, serving as Creative Director, Post-Production and Digital Strategy at Chronicles of a Chef.
His work is shaped by editorial precision, narrative clarity, and an eye for emotional resonance, bringing a thoughtful and refined approach to every project.
The story continues on Instagram. Behind the scenes, premiere updates, and moments from the making of Chronicles of a Chef, as they happen.
SHIVRA Studios is the creative media platform of SHIVRA, producing original content that celebrates hospitality, craft, and lived experience. Through documentary storytelling, chef-led conversations, and behind the scenes narratives, we explore the human side of food, leadership, service, and the cultural forces that shape how great hospitality is created and sustained.
Our work extends beyond what happens on screen. Chronicles of a Chef is one expression of a broader commitment to hospitality, structured growth, and the people who shape the industry.
Chronicles of a Chef is built around the people who have dedicated their lives to hospitality. If you are a chef, operator, restaurateur, hotel professional, or anyone whose story belongs in this series, we would love to hear from you. Share a few details below and our team will be in touch.
![@monal_z has spent over four decades being shaped by the kitchen. His story has never been fully told. Until now.
Chronicles of a Chef Episode 1: ROOTS. Premiering April 30, 2026. A SHIVRA Original.
#SHIVRA #ChroniclesOfAChef #MeetTheChef #ChefLife #Hospitality
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