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Mamaearth’s Varun Alagh joins Shark Tank India 5
MUMBAI: Varun Alagh, chief executive and co-founder of Honasa Consumer Ltd — the force behind Mamaearth, The Derma Co., Aqualogica and Ayuga — is joining the star-studded panel of investors on Shark Tank India Season 5. Known for championing consumer-first innovation, the entrepreneur is stepping into India’s boldest business arena armed with purpose, performance and a proven playbook for building beloved brands.
Alagh’s journey from brand strategist to startup trailblazer has long been hailed as a masterclass in empathy-led product thinking, digital agility and scalable, insight-driven growth. Now, as he takes his seat alongside Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Kunal Bahl and Mohit Yadav, he brings a fresh lens on how modern brands are built and how founders can turn ideas into impact.
Speaking about joining the panel, Varun Alagh said, “India’s entrepreneurship landscape is at a powerful inflection point, fuelled by bold, new-age founders reshaping industries. This wave of innovation is shaping the next chapter of India’s growth story. Shark Tank India empowers entrepreneurs to think bigger. I’m excited to join this season and back ideas that can transform categories and uplift communities.”
With a sharp eye for consumer behaviour and an instinct for category-creating ideas, Alagh’s arrival promises to shake up the Tank and perhaps inspire a new generation of founders to swim further, faster.
Shark Tank India Season 5 premieres soon on Sony Liv and Sony Entertainment Television.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
