Farah Khan's cook Dilip left Bihar at 16, earned Rs 300 a month. Now, a legit star

Dilip Mukhiya spent years working in other people's homes before a chance appearance in filmmaker Farah Khan's YouTube video changed his life. Today, the cook from Madhubani, Bihar, is a familiar face on social media, sharing screen space with celebrities and appearing in brand advertisements. But behind his newfound popularity is the story of a migrant worker who left home at 16 and came to Delhi, earning just Rs 300 a month.Dilip, now 42, was a teenager when his father gave him Rs 250 to travel from his village to Delhi in search of work. He spent around Rs 50 on his train ticket and food, sending the remaining Rs 200 home through a money order.His father worked on other people's farms, while his mother raised their children. Dilip wanted to improve their circumstances. When he started earning in Delhi, he bought two bullocks and a plough for his father, hoping to ease his workload.Speaking to The Print, Dilip said, “Main baat ye hain ki apna Bihari mehanti hai aur kama leta hai (The main point is that hard work is in Bihari blood).” How Farah Khan changed Dilip's lifeDilip spent nearly a decade in Delhi, working as a domestic worker. His responsibilities included sweeping, mopping, chopping vegetables and cooking. He earned Rs 300 a month, which he sent home to his family. He later moved to Mumbai, where he worked in several affluent households before joining Farah Khan's home around 13 years ago.A friend of the filmmaker recommended him for the job. Dilip said having accommodation was important to him because he did not want to spend heavily on rent or commute long distances in Mumbai. His entry into the world of online fame came on April 15 last year, when he appeared in one of Farah's YouTube videos featuring her Yakhni Pulao recipe.In the video, Farah jokes about Dilip's cooking and acting skills, even pretending to fire him before bringing him back in a subsequent episode with exaggerated Bollywood-style drama.The interaction struck a chord with viewers. Their exchanges soon became a regular feature of Farah's videos, with jokes about his salary, his ambitions and his growing popularity.Dilip's popularity has since extended beyond YouTube. He has appeared in advertisements for brands including Myntra, Amazon, Urban Company and Flipkart. He has also attended YouTube FanFest, worked with influencers and featured alongside Shah Rukh Khan in an advertisement.Celebrities have taken a liking to him, too. Actor Shruti Haasan has called him “the real star”, while Jackie Shroff has playfully corrected himself when addressing Dilip by the wrong name.A star in his own villageDilip's growing popularity is equally visible back home in Madhubani. During a recent visit to his village, women from his neighbourhood gathered to watch and discuss his videos, laughing at his exchanges with Farah.For many residents, who had previously seen him only on their mobile phones, his return with a camera crew was a remarkable sight.His success also stands out in a region where migration is a part of everyday life. Many men from north Bihar travel to cities for work, often leaving their families behind and sending money home.Dilip followed a similar path, but his appearance in Farah's videos gave him an opportunity that few migrant workers experience.However, internet fame has not made him wealthy overnight. His family home in the village remains unfinished. The three-storey brick structure, built with savings and money borrowed from neighbours, still lacks plaster and basic fittings.Dilip has also dismissed speculation about his earnings, saying that if he were making lakhs of rupees, he would have completed the house by now.“Whatever we have, we live within our means. We are satisfied with that only,” he told The Print.Dilip's journey has also shaped his hopes for his children. He left school after Class 5 because his family could not afford his education. He now wants his children to have opportunities that he missed.His eldest son, Chandan, has left school after Class 10 and joined him in Mumbai. Farah has reportedly supported him by paying for a six-month cooking diploma. Dilip's younger children have had different educational journeys, with his youngest son currently attending a private school.Dilip believes education is essential for a better future. “Without education, you can't have dreams,” he said.His wife, Anita, has never visited Mumbai because of severe motion sickness. Her aspirations remain rooted in their village home, where she hopes to have a proper bathroom and other basic facilities.For Dilip, the sudden attention has brought recognition and new opportunities, but his priorities remain close to home. His story is not simply about becoming a social media sensation. It is also about a migrant worker whose everyday humour and personality have connected with audiences far beyond the village where his journey began.- Ends