In an interview with writer Chetan Bhagat on his YouTube channel, Shark Tank India’s Namita Thapar discussed the importance of providing young women with role models other than social media influencers. She thanked the show for giving her the chance to present herself as an independent woman capable of making high-stakes decisions and competing with the men.
Namita admitted to being trolled after appearing on the show, but she has developed such a thick skin that even her “father, mother, or husband” no longer bother her. Namita previously stated that she spent Rs 10 crore on the show.
When Chetan mentioned that young women rarely see non-celebrity female role models to look up to, Namita responded, “You know what’s beautiful about Shark Tank? The majority of the episodes featured me sitting with four men, and they saw that I didn’t need anyone’s permission to put my crores; that I didn’t need to ask anyone. I was standing shoulder to shoulder with the men as a true equal, making my own decisions about crores, making my own choices, asking the right questions, being sharp while also being glamorous.”
“I think it was very refreshing for people to see that,” Namita added. I was making fun of the men and bullying them. We had our pow-wows, and I spoke up a lot. And I believe they saw a woman making financial decisions without consulting anyone, looking glamorous, speaking up and arguing with the men when necessary. That’s a very strong image. And I’m grateful to Shark Tank for providing me with that image.”
Shark Tank India’s first season was a smash hit on television and later on streaming. It not only made Namita famous, but also Anupam Mittal, Peyush Bansal, Vineeta Singh, Ghazal Alagh, Aman Gupta, and Ashneer Grover. A second season is being planned.