Chef Niklesh Sharma

Founder & Managing Director of APCA

Niklesh is the founder of the Academy of Pastry Arts Group and manages the operations of school in Malaysia, India and Philippines. With a Bachelors degree in Hotel Management, Chef Niklesh started his career in the field of Pastry & Bakery. With more than 20 years work experience in hotels, he is an award winning Pastry Chef with great record of Opening Hotels, Renovations and upgrading’s of Pastry Kitchens. He has worked in many luxury hotels and resorts, the last being the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel. He is a meticulous planner, with a strong hands-on approach in pre openings and managing of big Operations, Distributions and Events.

Chef Sehaj Ghuman

Head Chef - APCA Gurgaon

Chef Sehaj Ghuman is the head pastry chef at the Academy of Pastry and culinary arts,Gurgaon.
She started her career with The Oberoi hotels and resorts as Systematic Training and Education
Programme (STEP) associate 2014-2017 at The Oberoi ,Gurgaon. Post her graduation, she joined
the Oberoi Centre of learning and development and was the Gold medallist for the Kitchen
management batch 2017-2019. Prior to joining the Academy , she was appointed as a Junior
Sous chef - Pastry at The Oberoi Gurgaon from 2019-2021. During her tenure at the academy ,
she has represented the country for Mondial Des Arts Sucre 2022 , Paris , and was awarded the
most original award and stood 5th best in the world. She was holding the position of India
Pastry Champion, after winning India pastry cup 2023, and represented the country at Asian
Pastry Cup, 2024, Singapore and won The Best Team Spirit .
She’s currently the mentor for the Junior pastry India team representing the country at Rimni, Italy.

Chef Himanshu Roye

Chef de Cuisine- APCA Gurgaon

Chef Himanshu Roye, currently an Executive culinary chef at the Academy of pastry and culinary arts is a seasoned culinary professional with over 10 years of international experience, has led kitchens across prestigious luxury hotels in India, Malaysia, and Thailand. He began his journey after completing his Diploma in Culinary Arts from IHM Aurangabad and went on to serve in leading roles at globally renowned brands such as Marriott and Hilton. With a strong background in menu innovation, large-scale banqueting, and kitchen leadership, he brings refined expertise shaped by global exposure. His commitment to excellence and passion for elevating culinary experiences define his professional journey.

Chef Latika Hemnani

Pastry Chef - APCA Gurgaon

Chef Yashraj Dharadhar

Chef de Cuisine- APCA Mumbai

Chef Yashraj Dharadhar is a Culinary Chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, with a strong academic background holding a BA in Culinary Arts from WAGSHA School, Manipal University, and a master’s degree from IMI, Switzerland. His passion lies in hot kitchen operations and continental cuisine, supported by extensive international experience at renowned restaurants such as KKL Luzern and La Baracca Ristorante in Switzerland.

Achievement
* Served as Sous Chef at Adda, Hamburg, contributing significantly to the restaurant’s culinary success.
* Gained recognition working at the award-winning Olive Bar and Kitchen, Mumbai.
* Started his culinary career with the esteemed Taj Group, building a solid foundation in professional cooking.

Chef Yashraj Dharadhar specializes in continental cuisine, modern French cooking, and molecular gastronomy. He excels in creating innovative dishes, combining classic techniques with contemporary flair. His expertise in hot kitchen operations and his creativity in molecular gastronomy showcase his talent for elevating traditional dishes into unique and memorable dining experiences.

Chef Aniruddh Date

Pastry Chef - APCA Mumbai

Chef Aniruddh Date is a seasoned pastry chef with over 10 years of experience in the art of pastry and dessert creation. Trained at Kohinoor College of Hotel Management, he graduated with a BSc in Hotel Management and Catering Operations. His expertise spans a wide range of specialties, including classic French pastries, artisanal breads, and viennoiseries.

Achievement
* Started his career as a trainee at Monginis Pvt. Ltd., building a solid foundation in bakery operations.
* Managed bakery and viennoiseries production at Spencer’s Retail.
* Worked for 4.5 years at Le 15 Patisserie with Chef Pooja Dhingra, significantly contributing to the brand’s success.
* Played a key role in the startup The Dessert Street, specializing in modern French pastries and artisanal chocolates.

Chef Aniruddh Date is highly skilled in the science of baking, chocolate work, and sugar artistry. His deep knowledge and passion for pastry making shine through in his meticulous approach to crafting desserts. At the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, he focuses on imparting his refined techniques and expertise to students, ensuring they gain a thorough understanding of both traditional and modern pastry concepts.

Chef Sakshi Bharti

Pastry Chef - APCA Mumbai

Chef Sakshi Bharti is an Assistant Pastry Chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts (APCA). She holds a B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from the Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai (IHM Mumbai). Chef Sakshi began her pastry journey with the esteemed Taj Group of Hotels, gaining extensive experience at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers over a 6-year tenure.

Achievement
* Accumulated 9 years of experience in the pastry industry, excelling in luxury hospitality settings.
* Contributed significantly to the pastry operations at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, a renowned culinary landmark.
* Joined APCA in June 2022, bringing her expertise to the academy and mentoring aspiring pastry chefs.

Chef Sakshi Bharti is skilled in a variety of pastry techniques, with a focus on classic and contemporary dessert creations. Her expertise spans across cakes, plated desserts, and traditional pastries, reflecting a strong foundation in baking science. Known for her precision and creativity, she consistently delivers high-quality results, and her experience in luxury hospitality enhances her teaching approach at the academy.

Chef Khushi Kaushal

Assistant Pastry Chef- APCA Gurgaon

Chef Khushi Kaushal is the Assistant Pastry Chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Gurugram . She began her career in 2022 with Taj Hotels as a Commis Chef, where she was responsible for the pastry section at the Taj Hotel, Agra. In 2023, she joined the APCA Academy as an Assistant to the Pastry Team, marking the beginning of a fast-evolving journey in the world of
pastry arts. Since joining the Academy, she has trained in advanced chocolate sculpting and display work, and had the opportunity to co-host masterclasses alongside internationally acclaimed chefs
Eunyong Yun and Nicolas Lambert. She represented the Academy at the ISH Competition, where she
was awarded a Gold Medal for her chocolate display. In 2025, she was part of the team that won the Junior Indian Pastry Cup, where she was also awarded Best Miniature Pastry and Best Sugar Display, further establishing her as a promising young talent in the pastry industry. She will now represent India at the World Junior Pastry Cup in Italy.

Chef Charles

Pastry Chef - APCA Bangalore

Pastry Chef- APCA Bangalore

Chef Harshit

Assistant Pastry Chef- APCA Bangalore

Chef Harshit Vashisht is the Assistant Pastry Chef at APCA Bengaluru. He graduated from IIHM Delhi (2018–2021). After completing his studies, he began his career with the Taj Group at Vivanta by Taj, where he worked for a year. He then moved to France to work at the Michelin-starred resort Le Phébus. After returning to India, he joined APCA Bengaluru as an Instructor. He has represented India at the Asian Gelato Cup 2024 held in Singapore and secured the position of 2nd Runner-Up at the Junior Pastry Cup India. He is currently working at the chocolate factory Chocolatier M.

Chef Mayank

Senior Sous Chef- APCA Bangalore

 
Chef Mayank Sharma is the Senior Sous Chef and Culinary Instructor at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Bangalore.
He completed his B.Sc. in Hospitality and Hotel Administration (2015–2018) from the Ashok Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He began his career at Tres, New Delhi, where he built strong roots in European cuisine and developed a deep passion for fine dining and open-fire cooking.Chef Mayank then joined The Zuri Whitefield, Bangalore, a 5-Star Deluxe hotel, gaining experience in large-scale banqueting, leading the coffee shop and heading the speciality Italian restaurant Incanto. He later moved to Mumbai to work with EKAA, listed among Asia’s Best Restaurants 2023, where he strengthened his ingredient-driven approach and collaborated with various hotels and restaurants including a Michelin Guide restaurant giving him first-hand exposure to Michelin standards.He has also contributed to a key pre-opening project.  A true lover of street food, you’ll always find him experimenting, tasting and curating something new in the kitchen.

Chef Ananya

Pastry Chef - APCA Gurgaon

Chef Ananya Nayak is currently working as an assistant pastry chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Gurgaon. She started her career with the Oberoi Group of Hotels, where she served for three years and rose to the position of Chef de Partie.
Known for precision, creativity, and an organised approach to every task, she ensures that learners experience real-world standards of food preparation, hygiene, and presentation. Committed to excellence, she continues to share industry knowledge while helping shape the next generation of culinary talent.
 

Chef Yogesh Sharma

Pastry Chef - APCA Gurgaon

Chef yogesh sharma, currently working as a pastry chef at the academy of pastry and culinary Arts gurgaon. He began his journey in this industry as an assistant in APCA (2015-2023). Later, he joined La Meilleure as a Head Chef (2023-2025). He participated in coupe du monde de la patisserie in 2017 just to showcase his talent in the field.
 

chef aditi Dixit

Senior Sous Chef- APCA Gurgaon

Chef Aditi Dixit serves as the Senior Sous Chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Gurugram, where she brings an extensive culinary experience.
She previously held the role of F&B Consultant & Operations Manager at CYK Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd. (2022–25), steering diverse hospitality projects across the country with strategic insight.
She began her culinary journey at Indian Accent, New Delhi (2016-2018) and went on to work as Junior Sous Chef at Indian Accent, New York (2019–2020). She later contributed her craft as a Sous Chef at Comorin, Gurugram (2020–2022).
 
In addition to her professional repertoire, Aditi holds an MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management from IIM Indore, complementing her culinary acumen with strong business and operational capabilities. She also possesses a Hospitality Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu, Gurugram, along with a BBA, reinforcing her versatile and well-rounded foundation.
 

Chef Sanjana Srivastava

Senior Chef Instructor- APCA Gurgaon

Chef Sanjana Srivastava began her career as a STEP Associate with The Oberoi Group and later worked at The Oberoi Udaivilas. She then moved internationally, gaining experience in both Dubai and London across renowned French and Italian fine-dining kitchens, eventually growing into the role of Pastry Sous Chef. Her global exposure and technical expertise now guide her work as a Senior Chef Instructor at APCA Gurgaon.
 

Chef Tushar Pangarkar

Pastry Chef - APCA Bangalore

Chef Tushar Pangarkar is an internationally experienced Pastry Chef and Culinary Educator at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Bangalore, with 18+ years across luxury hotels, premium resorts, and leading pastry academies in India, Vietnam, Oman, and China. Skilled in modern French pastry, artisanal breads, chocolate work, and sugar artistry, he combines creativity with strong operational expertise. As an Instructor at the Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts, he has trained hundreds of aspiring chefs and developed advanced pastry curriculum. His global hotel experience includes Six Senses, Hilton, Wanda Hotels, and Hyatt. A dedicated mentor, he represented Team India as Manager at the Asia Pastry Cup 2022 and won the Best Team Spirit award.

Chef Ravi

Pastry Chef - APCA Bangalore

Chef Ravi Dhuriya is a Pastry chef working at Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts , Banglore.He completed his B.Sc. in Hospitality & Hotel Administration from IHM Gwalior in 2017 and began his culinary journey with The Oberoi Hotels, working in the Banquet Kitchen across the Tandoor and Gravy sections.
Driven by a deep interest in pastry arts, he joined Whitecaps International School of Pastry (2020), as an Assistant Pastry Instructor later promoted to Pastry Instructor and also the incharge of the production unit.His commitment to excellence led him to international exposure at the 3-Michelin-star Restaurant Boury in Belgium.With over 6 years of industry experience, He won the Junior Pastry India Cup 2023, proudly represented India at the Junior Pastry World Cup 2024 and secured an 6th position globally. He is also the winner of the India Pastry Cup 2025.

Chef Pratyay Keny

Pastry Chef - APCA Bangalore

Chef Pratyay Keny is the Executive Pastry Chef at APCA Bengaluru. Graduating from IHMCTAN Mumbai (2011–'14) and having over a decade of experience, he specializes in French Patisserie, Artisanal Boulangerie, and Sugar & Chocolate Displays. He was the winner of the India Pastry Cup in 2023 & 2025 and has earned international accolades, including 5th place and the Best Originality award at the World Confectionery Arts Competition (Mondial des Arts Sucrés) in Paris in 2022, and the Best Team Spirit award at the Asian Pastry Cup held in Singapore in 2024, where he represented Team India
 

Chef Nishant Shetty

Pastry Chef - APCA Mumbai

Chef Nishant is a seasoned pastry chef at the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Mumbai. He began his culinary education at Sophia Polytechnic with a degree in hotel management and started his professional journey in the pastry kitchen of Trident Nariman Point with the Oberoi Group, where he developed his foundational skills.

Achievement
* Graduated from the prestigious Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development.
* Led the pastry kitchen at The Oberoi Mumbai, showcasing exceptional leadership and culinary expertise.
* Currently a key member of the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, contributing to the development of future pastry chefs.

Chef Nishant specializes in pastry arts, with a strong focus on innovative dessert creations. His expertise ranges from classic pastry techniques to modern interpretations, demonstrating precision and creativity in his work. Known for his ability to craft exquisite pastries and desserts, he consistently delivers high-quality results with attention to detail and flavor balance.