Shark Tank Season 5: The latest season of Shark Tank Season 5 started on a fiery note after Boat’s Aman Gupta and Shaadi.com’s Anupam Mittal engaged in a heated war-of-words. The Shark Tank judges ended up throwing some personal jibes at one another after a contestant asked for Rs 1 crore for 2 per cent equity during their pitch.
Famously known for being at each other’s throats, the two billionaire investors often end up in heated arguments on camera. However, this episode stood out, even for netizens, as they compared Anupam Mittal‘s otherwise calm composure in the past seasons. The Mumbai-based couple, Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhar brought their toy brand and sought support from the investors.
Aman Gupta vs Anupam Mittal
The husband-wife duo brought forward an emotional story driven by a heartfelt video pitch. However, the Sharks did not seem immediately impressed by their ask. After hearing them out, Aman Gupta went on to hug the couple and made his offer. Countered by Mittal, they were faced with the challenge of accepting 5 per cent equity. The Shaadi.com founder shared, “Frankly, I’m so excited and passionate that I can’t just do this for 1 or 2 per cent.”
He shared that he had produced ad films and campaigns himself, so he knew what went on behind it. Extending his end of the bargain, he said, “I would have taken 10 per cent for Rs 2 crore and worked very closely. But that’s not possible today. And what might be possible, which you have to think about, who wants to work more towards this (sic).”
Aman then presented his side and said, “I think content is king, but distribution is God.” He then proposed that Varun could focus largely on content and that he would like to work closely with Pooja, bringing his business acumen to the largely emotional pitch.
‘Some of your companies close down’
Countering Gupta’s proposal, Mittal shared, “Nobody knows better digital distribution than me in this country for digital products.” However, this comment was not received by the Boat billionaire. He took a dig at Anupam Mittal and said, “Why then some of your companies close down?”
In this heated banter, Mittal made it a point to reply, “Bhai teri toh naukri nahi bachi yaar [Bro, you job is not safe anymore].” To mellow down this situation Emcure Pharma’s and Shark Tank judge Namita Thapar interrupted the two and claimed that the pitchers led the two to fight.
Namita Thapar’s attempt to save the day
‘Yahan toh ladai ho gayi [This led to fight],” Thapar remarked and offered the toy brand’s founder for an all-Shark teal. However, Aman Gupta blatantly refused and remarked, “I am not doing the five Sharks, I don’t like him anymore (Anupam).” Towards the end of the debacle, Aman Gupta and Namita decided to close the deal.