iWorld
McCain StarChef season two to air exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar India
Mumbai: Prepare for the ultimate cooking showdown as McCain’s StarChef Season 2 is coming on Disney+ Hotstar! After a successful premiere on GOODTiMES, the show will now stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, airing on the platform from 15 May 2024.
Building on the success of the inaugural season, Season 2 boasted an expanded format with five thrilling episodes. Four episodes were dedicated to the diverse culinary landscapes of each region in India. This season also featured a wildcard entry. The panel of judges for McCain StarChef Season 2 is a stellar line-up of culinary luminaries. Leading the charge in the grand finale was the renowned chef Manish Mehrotra, while the regional episodes were graced by the discerning palates of Anahita Dhondy and Aditya Bal.
Commenting on the brand-new season, McCain Foods India director – sales and marketing (food services, QSR and exports) Samantha Dutta said, “We are thrilled to bring McCain Star Chef Season 2 to audiences across the nation. This season represents a celebration of culinary diversity, talent, and innovation. The overwhelming response is a testament to the incredible pool of culinary expertise in our country. McCain StarChef is not just a competition; it’s a journey that brings together the rich tapestry of India’s regional cuisines. We are honoured to have esteemed judges, Manish Mehrotra, Anahita Dhondy, and Aditya Bal, guiding our contestants through this gastronomic adventure. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey like never. We’re thrilled to partner with Hotstar to bring this feast to the screens of every Indian household.”
Taking the digital world by storm across platforms, McCain has also launched an interactive Augmented Reality or AR Filter on Instagram for this launch. While consumers take part in the heat of the sharp competition by using this filter, McCain is also engaging students, or soon-to-be chefs – by placing a QR Code across hotel management institutes across India. Students will be led to the AR filter post filling a detailed form via this code, which will help scout for the next up and coming StarChef! The filter can be found here. – to be embedded as hyperlink.
This year, McCain StarChef received an overwhelming response from across the nation, with an astonishing 7000 entries from passionate and talented chefs vying for the coveted title. The competition promised to showcase the best of Indian cuisine, reflecting the rich and diverse culinary heritage that defines our nation.
This partnership between McCain Foods India and Disney+ Hotstar ensures that the culinary brilliance of StarChef reaches audiences across the country. The show will be available in Hindi and English on the platform. Viewers can expect to be entertained, inspired, and blown away as they watch these culinary maestros transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary experiences.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.






