Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt and one of the most recognisable faces from Shark Tank India, hasn’t minced words about his thoughts on the show’s new faces. The business reality show, which has been a prime-time hit since 2021, recently welcomed a few new sharks in its fourth season. But for Aman, not everyone’s motives are as clean as they appear.
The candid entrepreneur admitted he has reservations about some of these new additions. Aman remarked, “I like those whose companies are performing well. They’re original and aren’t in the show to fix their character.” Without naming anyone, he hinted at those who initially turned down the show but returned later chasing the spotlight after seeing him and Anupam Mittal rise to popularity.
Aman recalled how, after witnessing the rising fame of the original sharks, certain individuals changed their stance. “There were people who had initially rejected Shark Tank, but once they saw Anupam and me become heroes, they had FOMO. So they kept chasing the makers asking them to make them sharks. And now, they’re sharks,” he revealed while speaking to content creator Prakhar Gupta on his YouTube channel.
He explained that while he has evolved through the seasons, his core values remain untouched. “Aman Gupta may have evolved from season 1 to 4, but his character has been the same. We don’t do any useless stuff. Love us or hate us, this is who we are.” He praised fellow shark Namita Thapar too, stating, “Namita has always been honest about where her expertise lies.”
The show’s latest season introduced Kunal Bahl, Viraj Bahl, and Chirag Nakrani as new sharks. While the official response to their entries has been enthusiastic, Aman hinted that some among them might be using the show for image correction more than genuine business acumen.
For Aman, ego is the biggest enemy of growth. He warned against the dangers of self-importance, saying, “A lot of people get god complex once they start doing well, the media starts writing about them, and the family starts congratulating you via messages. That’s where the downfall of everybody starts.” He remembered a lesson his mother often told him, “Even Ravana couldn’t keep his pride.”
At the heart of his entrepreneurial journey lies a commitment to happiness over wealth. Aman shared how leaving his job at JBL was a bold but satisfying decision. Those years without steady income didn’t shake him because he was doing what felt right. “Money is never-ending. I think a little differently. You should just be happy with what you’re doing, and money would follow,” he said.
He confessed to being unemployed for nearly five years after quitting, yet during that phase, he never doubted his choices. BoAt was his passion project, built not to chase riches but to create meaningful products. “I was working on boAt then, was having fun, was making good products keeping the consumer in mind. I didn’t realize it’d become such a big company today and I’d earn so much money,” he reflected.
Drawing inspiration from mythology, Aman compared his journey to the advice Krishna gave Arjuna in the Mahabharata, “Karma karo, fal ki chinta mat karo.” He concluded with wisdom, “Like they say, if you chase your shadow, the shadow would run away. Just like that, if you chase money, money would just run away.”
Aman’s perspective stands as a reminder that while fame and fortune might tempt many, authenticity and integrity are what endure.
