Jimmy has a bold aim for his time in MasterChef Australia. He is determined that his hot Indian cooking will influence the notoriously chilli shy judge George Calombaris into adding a spicy curry to the menu in one of his restaurants.

"I really want to work his taste buds," Jimmy says. "Most of my cooking knowledge is about hot and spicy food. I am convinced my parents used to put masala in my baby formula to add some flavour, so I now favour dishes that are full of spices and chilli."

Having moved from India to Australia when he was just six months old, Jimmy's parents opened a spice shop in Sydney. He spent the majority of his childhood working there, so it was only natural that this love of spices that led to Jimmy's career as a food ingredient researcher.

His ultimate dream is to inspire people to be more adventurous with their cooking, and he recognises that this is something that is important to learn as a child.

"I'd like to set up educational classes for kids to get them to appreciate sweet, sour and salty notes in food,” he explains. “It would broaden their palates. Flavours are like language, that’s why people eat things that they did when they were kids because it reminds them of happy times and memories."

Describing himself as "the clown of the pack," Jimmy has always reverted to humour to cope with stressful situations, and says this characteristic developed as a result of being overweight as a child.

"I lost 60kg about six years ago having been overweight as a child, and since I lost the weight I've never looked back,” he proudly says. “I do tend to revert to jokiness to cope with situations; life is about having fun and I won't forget that in the competition."

Jimmy is engaged to Jem, who he has been with for over five years, and she's certainly understanding as their wedding has gone on hold to allow Jimmy to compete in MasterChef.

"I drive her nuts with my cooking talk and she was actually the one who recommended that I enter,” he says. “I do all the cooking at home, and I know she wants me to come back with a whole stack of new recipes."

Concerned that he needed to broaden his culinary horizons before MasterChef, Jimmy turned to Jem's family for help.

"I've been on a MasterChef boot camp,” laughs Jimmy. “Jem's mum has spent some time helping me with cakes and soufflés and dishes you don't find in Indian cooking. Plus, I'm remembering all of my mum's tips because she is the best cook. Cook with her heart, your tongue and your taste. And that's the most important thing."