India’s work culture just got its own cage match, and the gloves are off. Shark Tank India stars Anupam Mittal and Namita Thapar locked horns in a fiery exchange over the controversial 70-hour work week during an interview with Humans of Bombay.

Mittal said the long working hours were a “big lie”, while Thapar called it “bullshit”. The clash has reignited a heated national debate on productivity, work-life balance and the cost of India’s hustle and bustle culture.

Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com, dismissed the obsession with long hours, calling it “a big lie being told to this generation”. Mittal, reflecting on his early 16-hour shifts in the US, argued that success comes from effort and strategy, not time spent.

He cited his company’s hybrid model as proof, claiming it increased productivity by 30%. “Work-life balance is destroying an entire generation,” he said, advocating instead “harmony between work and family life.” For Mittal, young professionals should strive in the early years of their careers to build character and achieve extraordinary results.

Namita Thapar, CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, hit back, calling Mittal’s argument “bullshit”. Thapar insisted that the reality of founders and employees is fundamentally different. “Founders like me have significant financial interests and can afford to work all day, but employees can’t,” he said. He added that demanding non-stop work hours from employees can have serious consequences for physical and mental health. Thapar explained that while he worked grueling hours to help take Emcure public, employees don’t share the same financial advantage and shouldn’t be held to those expectations.

This debate stems from Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s recent call for India’s youth to adopt a 70-hour work week to increase productivity and compete globally. While Mittal advocates the idea of ​​pushing the limits for success, Thapar advocates realistic limits, highlighting the human cost of overwork.