The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 5 delivered high drama alongside entrepreneurial spirit, as a heated argument between sharks Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta culminated in a personal and sarcastic jab. The clash erupted during the pitch for EMoMee, an educational children's content brand, and saw Mittal remark to Gupta, "Bhai teri toh naukri hi nahi bachi yaar (Brother, you don't have a job anymore)", a clear reference to Gupta's recent resignation as the Chief Marketing Officer of boAt just days before the company's IPO.
The EMoMee Pitch That Captivated All Sharks
Founders Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhari from Mumbai presented their brand, EMoMee, a micro-story universe dropping a new story on YouTube daily to teach real-life skills to children aged 3 to 8 years. They sought an investment of Rs 1 crore for a 2% equity stake in their venture.
The pitchers came with impressive credentials. Varun was the co-founder of Glitch, a premier creative agency acquired by WPP in 2017-18, and had played an integral role in developing boAt's initial brand strategy, a fact acknowledged by Aman Gupta on the show. Pooja, a former CEO of Glitch and Group CEO for multiple agencies, started EMoMee at 39. Their content traction was remarkable: from 1,000 subscribers in April 2025, they grew to 1.5 million subscribers by November, garnering 1.7 crore views in just 28 days with a 72% engagement rate.
Clash of Titans: Distribution Expertise vs. Content Strategy
The pitch took a competitive turn when all five sharks made offers. While Namita Thapar, Aman Gupta, Kunal Bahl, and Mohit Yadav offered deals matching the ask, Anupam Mittal made a larger offer of Rs 2 crore for 5% equity, citing his experience in building IPs and producing films.
The conflict ignited over business strategy. Aman Gupta emphasised that "content is king but distribution is god," pitching his strength in scaling brands. Anupam Mittal countered, asserting, "Nobody knows better digital distribution in this country than me." Gupta retorted by questioning why some of Mittal's past companies had shut down. This prompted Mittal's sharp, personal comeback about Gupta's job status post his CMO resignation.
Deal Dynamics and the Final Outcome
The tension escalated to the point where Aman Gupta refused a multi-shark deal, stating, "I am not doing it, I don't like him anymore." Ultimately, the founders of EMoMee gave a counteroffer of Rs 2 crore for 4% equity and successfully secured a deal with both Namita Thapar and Aman Gupta, sidelining Anupam Mittal after the fiery exchange.
This episode underscored the intense rivalry and strong personalities on the panel, turning a business negotiation into a memorable televised showdown that has since become a major talking point for the show's audience.
