Raji Jallepalli (1949-2002) was an Indian-American chef who pioneered the fusion of Indian and French cuisine. He was born in Hyderabad, India, and moved to the United States in 1969. He studied cooking at the New York School of Culinary Arts and later worked as a chef at various restaurants in the city. In 1989, Jallepalli opened his own restaurant, The East India Company, in Memphis, Tennessee. The restaurant was a success, and Jallepalli quickly became one of the best-known chefs in the city. In 1994, she was chosen to host her own television show, Raji's Kitchen, which aired on PBS. Jallepalli died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 52. His legacy lives on in his kitchen, which continues to inspire chefs around the world.