Host of 'Top Chef' Padma Lakshmi Faces Custody Battle

“Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi adds a legal battle to her plate after Adam Dell sued on Wednesday for custody of Lakshmi’s daughter.

As the Associated Press reports, Dell is arguing for custody of the 11-month-old saying Lakshmi’s lifestyle is out of line with the child’s welfare. She’s “either unable of unwilling to moderate either her social or business travel,” he said.

Lakshmi is currently dating financier Ted Forstmann, and has given the infant a name that is reportedly a nod to her boyfriend’s full name, Theodore. Dell, a venture capitalist, is also arguing for the child’s name to be changed from “Krishna Thea Lakshmi “to Krishna Lakshmi Dell."

Dell holds that he was willing to share duties but Lakshmi has tried "to minimize, if not eliminate, (Dell's) role in Krishna's life."

A temporary agreement that grants Dell limited involvement with the child is set to expire next month.

One of Dell’s lawyers, William D. Zabel, said his client hopes the lawsuit will lead to a reasonable “co-parenting agreement.”

Spokesperson Christina Papadopoulos issued statement on behalf of Lakshmi.

"Ms. Lakshmi's sole interest lies in preserving the privacy and welfare of her daughter and in working out a fair and amicable agreement out of the media's glare," she said.

The lawsuit holds that Dell is the reliable parent, as Lakshmi’s “career as a television personality and her commitment to celebrity status involve a hectic, irregular schedule and requires frequent and distant travel.”

Meanwhile, the news section on Padma’s site, which reveals her public schedule, has not been updated since Dec. 9, when she was seen on the "Today Show" on NBC.