Shark Tank India season 4: Anupam Mittal questions entrepreneur’s lack of Ayurvedic qualifications, calls business ‘poora gadhbadh’

Shark Tank India Season 4, currently streaming on Sony LIV, recently showcased an entrepreneur from Indore, Bharat Khatri, who sought an investment for his hair care business. The entrepreneur pitched his range of natural products designed to stop hair fall and help people regrow their hair. He humorously began his pitch with a catchy phrase, “Ganji nahi, ghani hogi,” which quickly lightened the mood and got the sharks laughing.


Bharat, an entrepreneur from Indore, pitched his business on Shark Tank India seeking Rs 50 lakh for 2% equity. His presentation impressed the Sharks, with Anupam praising his business model. Despite the positive reception, Anupam remained skeptical of the numbers presented. Kunal Bahl acknowledged Bharat's potential but chose not to make an offer. Peyush Bansal, however, offered Rs 50 lakh for 10% equity along with a 2% royalty until Rs 1 crore was recovered. Bharat, confident in the worth of his business, countered with a proposal of Rs 50 lakh for 4% equity. Peyush, sticking to his original offer, emphasized its justification given the scope of the investment, while Bharat felt the terms were too costly.


The exchange reportedly led to a debate, during which Bharat admitted he didn’t have formal training in Ayurveda but held an AYUSH license, which allows practitioners to offer Ayurvedic, Yoga, and Naturopathy treatments. Anupam Mittal expressed concerns, suggesting that selling home remedies in the market came with a responsibility to ensure they were scientifically sound and properly marketed. He expressed disappointment, implying that the business lacked proper credibility, and criticized the approach as potentially misleading.

Despite the tension, the pitch highlighted the challenges entrepreneurs face when venturing into health and wellness products and the importance of scientific validation in such industries.

Internet reacted to the pitch

A few in the Reddit community also agreed with Anupam Mittal and his feedback. A Reddit user discussed Bharat Khatri's pitch for his hair care brand "Havintha" on Shark Tank India. Despite impressive sales and customer reviews, the user expressed concerns about the pitcher’s lack of Ayurvedic knowledge, incorrect product claims, and business being a proprietorship rather than a registered company. A comment highlighted that while home remedies from grandparents may work when catering to a larger audience, accountability is essential, especially regarding product specifications and approvals. A comment pointed out that while Ayurveda is often seen as advanced in India, it is essentially pseudoscience without substantial evidence, with some ingredients offering benefits, but much of it is just generational knowledge being glorified.