A graduate of the Naval Institute of Technology, Colaba (Mumbai), Mugdha is a food stylist and food researcher. Having trained at places like the Orchid Hotel and The Oberoi, she got a chance to learn the nuances of food preparation and presentation in terms of food display.

A chance opportunity of assisting her then professor, Chef Michael Swamy on a food shoot, gave her the opportunity of learning to cook for the camera, landing her a full-time job with Chef Michael. Under Chef Michael’s guidance, she also learned to develop and edit recipes for culinary manuals and cookery books. She has also been involved in the theoretical aspects of many projects involving cookery books, restaurant consultancy and television shows like MasterChef India 1 & 2, Ravinder’s Kitchen (on TLC) and Fox Twist of Taste 3 with Vikas Khanna. She has also in the past held a weekly column in a leading Marathi daily, wherein she wrote about unusual foods.

Her extensive travel throughout India opened up many facets of the rich culinary legacy, prompting her towards researching food deeply and studying its close connection with culture.