Why Does This Shark Tank India Season Suck?

Shark Tank India is an Indian version of the American Reality television show, Shark Tank. Endemol Shine India produces the show in association with Sony Pictures India. It features entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to their investors(called sharks), who decide to invest or fund their businesses.

Shark Tank India season 1 aired on Sony LIV and Sony Entertainment from December 20th, 2021 to February 4th, 2022, while season 2 aired on the same channels from January 2nd, 2023.

Season 1 Was a Big Success

The First season was a big hit among the audience. The judging panel for the first season was the most successful business comprising Ashneer Grover (Founder and Managing Director of Bharat Pe), Vineeta Singh (CEO & Co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics), Peyush Bansal (Founder & CEO of Lenskart), Namita Thapar (Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO of Shaadi.com – People Group), Ghazal Alagh (Co-founder and Chief Mama of Mamaearth) and Aman Gupta (Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at boAt).

Popular anchor and youth icon Rannvijay Singha hosting the first season is another major attraction. Know him for shows like MTV Roadies, and Spilstvilla which exists fans to attract the show.

The first season featured a variety of successful pitches, including “Heart Up My Sleeves” by Riya Khattar, which is a minimalistic and sustainable brand that offers detachable statement sleeves as a solution to the common problem of having nothing to wear.

“Blue Pine Foods” by Aditi Madan specializes in frozen and convenient proprietary foods, specifically authentic Darjeeling momos that are nutritious and preservative-free. “Jha Ji Stores” by Kalpana Jha and Uma Kumari, which is a food brand that specializes in handmade, sun-dried pickles from Mithilanchal, Bihar, etc.

Mixed Reactions To Season 2

Following the success of season 1, season 2 of Shark Tank has aired last month. But they got a lot of criticism from viewers.

Many viewers of Shark Tank India have expressed disappointment at the absence of Ashneer Grover and Rannvijay Singha in the show’s second season.

Why Ashneer Grover left Shark Tank?

Ashneer Grover, who was not a part of Shark Tank India Season 2, recently broke his silence during an interview with Red FM. He stated that “affording” someone is not only about money but also about status. This statement suggests that he believes that his status may have played a role in his non-selection for the show, but it’s not clear if the show couldn’t afford him or if his status wasn’t high enough. It is not known if he has any further explanations or comments on his non-selection for the show.

He also unfollowed the co-judges of season one on social media. In his place, Amit Jain, the founder of CarDekho, has joined the panel of sharks.

Similarly, Rannvijay Singha, the former host of Shark Tank India, recently revealed in an interview the reason for his decision to quit the show. He stated that as a host; he had little to do on the show and that was the reason for his departure. He has been replaced on the show by comedian Rahul Dua.

These changes have left many viewers feeling nostalgic for the first season and missing Ashneer Grover and Rannvijay Singha on the show. Some fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment and hope for their return in future seasons. Overall, these changes have created mixed feelings among the fans of the show.

Personal Bias

RecodeStudios, a company that appeared on Shark Tank, deserved better treatment from the Sharks. It was disheartening to see the Sharks not investing in companies run by friends and also blocking certain categories on the show’s stage. This sort of behavior can discourage entrepreneurs who may have a unique and innovative business idea but are not given a fair chance because of personal biases or a lack of understanding of their industry. Sharks need to approach each pitch with an open mind and consider the potential of the business, rather than dismissing it based on personal relationships or preconceptions about certain industries.

Shark Tank India, Season 2 airs on Sony TV in India from Monday to Friday at 10 pm.

Jithesh V M
BSc Computer Science

MG University