Shark Tank India 5: Anupam Mittal rips into pitcher over ‘doctor’ claim

As Shark Tank India gears up for its fifth season, the makers have dropped a teaser that makes one thing clear: the gloves are off. The promo, released ahead of the show’s premiere tonight, captures sharks Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta in an uncompromising mood as they question not just business models, but also the credibility and qualifications of the pitchers walking into the Tank.

The new season brings back a formidable panel featuring Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar and Kunal Bahl. While the show’s debut season became a pop-culture phenomenon largely due to Ashneer Grover’s blunt takedowns, Season 5 appears ready to raise the stakes further with sharper scrutiny and tougher questions.

‘Kya kaand karne aaye ho?’: Anupam Mittal takes on the pitcher

One of the most explosive moments in the promo features influencer Manoj Das from Jaipur, who introduces himself as a naturopath and aromatherapy specialist and uses the prefix “Doctor” before his name. As Kunal Bahl asks to see the ratings and reviews on Das’s website, the sharks quickly zero in on inconsistencies.

With the website showing a modest 3.5 rating, Anupam remarks that the reviews appear questionable. When Das claims he has around 50 reviews, Anupam fires back, pointing out the mismatch. “If you’re selling ₹5 crore worth of inventory, how can there be just 50 reviews?” he asks, visibly unconvinced.

Aman Gupta chimes in with a blunt assessment: “Kuch gadbad hai, sir.” Moments later, Anupam delivers the line that dominates the promo: “Tum kya kaand karne aaye ho?”

The tension escalates when Anupam challenges Das for calling himself a doctor. “If you’re doing a bachelor’s degree in aromatherapy and adding ‘Doctor’ to your name,” Anupam says, “then I’ll change my own name,” making it clear that misrepresentation will not be taken lightly in the Tank.

Tough questions, tougher expectations

The promo also hints at several other high-pressure pitches, ranging from dessert entrepreneurs to players in the wellness and aromatherapy space. In another intense exchange, Anupam presses a founder on how the business is being funded without external capital.

The pitcher responds candidly, saying he has invested his lifetime savings, taken a home-loan top-up and even availed a gold loan. “If we get the right mentorship at the right time, we’ll be able to sustain,” he adds.

Aman, however, cuts through the optimism with a pointed question: “But what if you don’t get that advice?”

These moments of friction, doubt and drama have long been central to Shark Tank India’s appeal—and Season 5 seems poised to double down on exactly that.

Shark Tank India’s journey so far

Since its debut in December 2021, Shark Tank India has reshaped how entrepreneurship is viewed on Indian television. The first season ran for about 35 episodes and averaged a TRP of 0.6, drawing over 20 million viewers in its opening week despite mixed reactions. It also turned several sharks—most notably Ashneer Grover—into household names.

Season 2 maintained steady traction with TRPs between 0.4 and 0.5, while Season 3 attracted roughly 4.5 million weekly viewers and an estimated total viewership of around 80 million.

Season 4 marked a major leap. The show clocked over 178 million views, with its OTT viewership reportedly 102% higher than Bigg Boss OTT 3. The sharks committed nearly ₹94.8 crore to startups during the season, signalling growing investor confidence and more serious deal-making.

‘Founders are now coming to do legitimate deals’

According to Financial Express, Shark Tank India recorded 100% user growth across 42 Tier-2 markets after shifting to an OTT-only format. Reflecting on the show’s evolution, Anupam Mittal wrote on LinkedIn after Season 4 that what began as a format mocked by some founders and VCs has now emerged as a serious platform for brands.

“Close to ₹100 crore was committed across around 180 pitches,” he noted, adding that deals of ₹1–5 crore per company had become increasingly common as valuations turned more reasonable and founders began approaching the Tank with genuine intent.

If the Season 5 promo is any indication, the sharks are ready to guard that credibility fiercely—and any pitcher cutting corners should brace for impact.