To marinate the chicken, mix yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl.
Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly, cover, and let it marinate for at least an hour or overnight for deeper flavor.
Heat oil in a deep pan and fry the marinated chicken in batches until golden and cooked through, then drain on paper towels.
In a large pot, heat ghee or oil, sauté onions until golden brown, then add ginger-garlic paste and green chilies, cooking until fragrant.
Stir in tomatoes and cook until soft, followed by curry leaves and any leftover marinade spices.
In a separate pot, bring water to a boil with salt and whole spices like bay leaves or cardamom, then add soaked basmati rice and cook until 70% done before draining.
To assemble, layer half of the rice in the biryani pot, add the fried chicken, pour over any remaining masala sauce, then top with the rest of the rice.
Drizzle saffron milk or food color if using, and garnish with fresh mint and coriander.
Seal the pot tightly with foil or a lid and cook on low heat for 30–40 minutes to allow the flavors to blend beautifully.
Serve and enjoy.