Aman Gupta's Cutting Remark Ignites Rivalry on Shark Tank India Season 5
The ongoing competitive dynamic between investors Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal once again captured national attention during the latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 5. A particularly sharp on-air comment made by Aman Gupta quickly spread across social media platforms, becoming the most talked-about moment from the show.
The Pitch: Twin AI Fashion-Tech Startup
The confrontation unfolded during the presentation for Twin, an innovative artificial intelligence-powered fashion technology application. This platform enables users to generate a virtual avatar and digitally experiment with outfits by utilizing their existing wardrobe collections. The startup was established by Aseem Khanduja, a Gurugram-based entrepreneur and IIT Delhi alumnus with nearly eight years of experience in the AI sector.
Aseem launched Twin in June 2025 under his company Unstudio. He revealed his previous entrepreneurial venture, an edtech startup named Strive, which had Anupam Mittal as one of its investors. Aseem eventually exited that business due to fundamental differences in strategic vision with stakeholders.
Investment Proposal and Initial Shark Reactions
For his current venture, Aseem sought an investment of ₹60 lakh for 1% equity, placing the company's valuation at ₹60 crore. After personally testing the application, Aman Gupta expressed considerable admiration, labeling the product as "outstanding". Kanika Tekriwal also praised the fundamental concept, especially appreciating it from an end-user's perspective.
However, not all sharks shared this enthusiasm. Kunal Bahl and Mohit Yadav voiced significant reservations regarding the business model's long-term scalability and financial sustainability. While the founder highlighted that Twin had already secured contracts with 25 prominent Indian brands, Kunal questioned whether the idea could mature beyond being merely an interesting feature into a fully viable, standalone business enterprise. Mohit echoed these concerns and ultimately decided to opt out of the deal.
The Intense Bidding War and Viral Moment
Aman Gupta initiated the bidding by proposing ₹60 lakh for 3% equity. Anupam Mittal countered with an offer of ₹68 lakh for 2% equity, emphasizing that his extensive experience and deep understanding of the technology and startup landscape could provide substantial value to the company. Kanika Tekriwal matched Anupam's offer, stating she prefers to invest in products she can personally envision herself using regularly.
As negotiations grew more intense, the founder revised the company's valuation down to ₹40 crore. In response, Anupam increased his offer to ₹80 lakh for 2% equity, which was promptly matched by both Aman and Kanika.
It was at this critical juncture that the exchange between the two prominent sharks captivated the audience. While Anupam elaborated on his access to a massive user base exceeding five million people, Aman interrupted with a pointed, humorous jibe that instantly became the episode's defining viral clip:
"Shaadi ka database thodi chahiye hai, lehenge thodi bikenge iss par," he remarked, dismissively questioning the relevance of Shaadi.com's matrimonial user data to a fashion-tech application focused on virtual try-ons.
The comment triggered widespread laughter on set and powerfully highlighted the simmering professional tension between the two investors throughout this season.
The Final Decision and Aftermath
Ultimately, founder Aseem Khanduja decided to accept Aman Gupta's investment offer. While expressing gratitude to Anupam Mittal, Aseem mentioned he had been genuinely keen to collaborate with him again. A visibly disappointed Anupam responded, "How will I help you, if you don't take the deal?"
The episode has since generated significant online discussion and debate. Viewers are actively reacting to the sharp exchange, analyzing the negotiation tactics, and commenting on the escalating rivalry between Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal, which continues to be a major narrative thread in Shark Tank India Season 5.
