Entrepreneur Anupam Mittal feels like a star, but the stardom isn’t of the level of Shah Rukh Khan. The businessman, who became a household name as one of the judges on Shark Tank India, says being a celebrity has affected his life “hugely” and he feels privileged to be famous.
In an interview with The BarberShop with Shantanu, Anupam Mittal was asked how he feels to be a celebrity, to which the businessman said the social position comes with immense perks. He has been a judge on Shark Tank India, currently in its third season, since its first outing.
“The celebrityhood, the stardom, the name, it has affected my life hugely. It is not like I can’t walk on the streets, Shah Rukh Khan thodi na hun (I am no Shah Rukh Khan). But some places get more crowded than others. Airports and all are a big mess. If you go to an event, it becomes tough, it becomes very crowded. People also just catch you. Once I was crossing the road and there was a guy on his bike.
“This incident happened last year, when he slowed down his bike and just grabbed my hand. I was like, ‘Boss what are you doing?’ and he told me, ‘Sir photo leni hai!’ I said, ‘Jaan thodi lega?!’ So that happens, when you go out people do recognise think that you are out of reach– that is, they don’t expect to see you. A lot of people will look twice but walk away thinking, ‘nahi ho sakta,'” he said.
Mittal said being a celebrity has “helped” him a lot and wondered what’s not to like in being popular. The entrepreneur said he doesn’t like when people, who become popular, start dissing it.
“A lot of people become famous and I find it very amusing when they complain about lack of privacy. I feel, then leave it. This comes from conditioning. We grow up being told to remain humble so you struggle with that. I also struggled with it initially. That’s the problem, but you always have a choice, you can stop doing it.
“But to continue doing it and then cry about it… But I love it. I embrace it. I don’t have to stand in queue anymore, what can be better than that? You don’t need restaurant reservations. So there are perks,” he added.
Mittal is currently judging Shark Tank India 3 with Vineeta Singh, Aman Gupta, Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, and six new judges, who have joined the show in this season.
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