He earned praise for accessibility and controversy for straying from tradition for his embrace of simplified ingredients such as curry powder.
[1][2] After using his background as a French teacher to find work in the field, he eventually became a chef and cookbook writer.
[1][3] The Betty Crocker book was the first of a number of popular cookbooks on the subject; as the New York Times reported, he "has by some estimations taught more Americans how to cook Indian food than anyone else.
[1][2] In his late 50s, Iyer was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and decided to go public with the news to encourage others to get screened.
[4] At the end of March 2023, Iyer was visiting friends in San Francisco when he fell ill with pneumonia, as a complication of the cancer.