Jeevika Tyagi, co-founder and CEO of athleisure brand Aastey, made headlines in February 2024 for her bold response to Shark Tank India judge Namita Thapar‘s critique of her company’s marketing spending. Tyagi’s confidence and determination have now led her to another exciting venture – Reality Ranis of the Jungle. Hosted by Varun Sood, this adrenaline-packed reality show premiered on Discovery Channel on September 23, 2024, featuring Tyagi as a contestant.
Jeevika Tyagi sat down with Times Now/Telly Talk India for an exclusive chat, dishing on her Reality Ranis adventure and shedding light on the controversy that erupted during her Shark Tank India stint.
“I have done a reality show before but it was just a 15-minute gig where I was presenting my brand. The production house of Reality Ranis was big so I signed up for it. But when I reached on the sets the first day, I found out that it was all real. I was a little upset about it. It was literally a jungle and my confidence just dripped. I was like I cannot do this. Within the first 10 minutes, I cried. This is a reality show where you just can’t act. The jungle gets the better of you along with the wild Ranis.” says Jeevika Tyagi
Jeevika Tyagi opens up about her Shark Tank India Season 3 controversy, saying, “The experience with Shark Tank was never pleasant. The journey wasn’t easy. I still say that whatever I admitted to was 100 per cent true. Just because apke pas ek kursi hai aur ek muh hai iska matlab ye nahin ki aap kuch bhi bol denge. I truly believe that all things can happen with words of kindness.”
Jeevika Tyagi and her co-founder Kanupriya Mundhra’s appearance on Shark Tank India 3 in February sparked intense debate. During their pitch, Vineeta Singh expressed concerns that businesses securing finance easily often lack “financial discipline.” Namita Thapar was even more critical, questioning their allocation of funds, saying, “You took INR 10 cr from the investors and spent the amount primarily on marketing? I am out.” This blunt assessment highlighted the sharks’ skepticism regarding Aastey’s financial strategy.
Jeevika Tyagi later contested the episode’s portrayal, alleging that selective editing had misrepresented her startup, Aastey, creating a misleading impression that didn’t accurately reflect her business.
