KULSUM BEGUM
THE CUSTODIAN & MENTOR
Kunwar Rani Kulsum Begum stands at the heart of The Heirloom Kitchen, safeguarding a remarkable culinary inheritance rooted in the royal traditions of Hyderabad and Awadh .
A niece of Salar Jung III and married to Rajkumar Amir Naqi Khan of Basaha Estate, Mahmudabad, she represents the coming together of two distinguished culinary lineages.
From 2001 to 2017, she served as Celebrity Master Chef with ITC Hotels Limited, presenting these traditions at food festivals across India, training fellow chefs and participating in international culinary showcases in Dubai and Thailand. Between 2022 and 2024, she also played a pivotal role in launching Adi at The Leela Hyderabad, personally training its kitchen team and shaping a menu inspired by the Salar Jung heritage.
Her greatest contribution, however, has been ensuring that this inheritance lives beyond her own generation. Through years of personal mentorship, she passed on the family's recipes, techniques, proportions and understanding of culinary balance to her daughter, Chef Maliha Khan.
Today, as the guiding authority and founding custodian of The Heirloom Kitchen, Kulsum Begum continues to safeguard its culinary philosophy, while Maliha carries the legacy forward through carefully curated dining experiences rooted in authenticity.
The knowledge was entrusted to her. The wisdom was passed forward. The legacy continues.