Q+A with Suvir Saran | Becoming visible
In his memoir—Tell My Mother I Like Boys—Chef Suvir Saran opens up about queerness, courage, and the long journey from quiet shame to living truthfully
Q. What compelled you to tell your story? Why now?
Q. What compelled you to tell your story? Why now?
This story had been living inside me for decades, quietly asking to be heard. I felt ready now—emotionally, physically, spiritually—to offer it not as confession, but as companionship to others navigating silence, difference, and love.
Q. How long was the book in the making? Was it a tough book to write?
The book took a lifetime to live and several years to write. It was difficult because it required honesty—but also healing, which ultimately made the writing restorative.
Q. Was it difficult coming to terms with your sexuality?
I knew very early that I was different—by the age of three I sensed my oddness, and by five I knew I didn’t fit the expected mould. The language came much later, in adolescence; the awareness, unease, and quiet shame were always already there.
Q. What role, if any, has food played in your awakening?
Food became my first safe language—long before words felt possible. It allowed me to give love, receive acceptance, and feel worthy in spaces where I couldn’t yet speak my truth.
Q. Chef, actor, model, anchor and so much more—you wear many hats. How would you describe a multi-hyphenate personality like yourself? What do you identify most as?
I identify most as a storyteller—sometimes through food, sometimes through words, sometimes through presence. The roles change, but the intent remains the same: to connect, to nourish, to tell the truth gently.
Q. Any other books we can look forward to in the future?
Yes, but they will arrive more quietly. This book was a reckoning; what follows will be about reflection, belonging, and the grace of living truthfully.