The latest season of Shark Tank India has already courted controversy after a spiritual brand faced tough questions from investors, igniting a debate about commercializing sacred concepts. Lewisia Wellness, an aromatherapy and naturopathy brand founded by Dr. Manoj Das, sought ₹1 crore for a 1% stake, valuing the company at ₹100 crore. However, the pitch quickly went south as the Sharks challenged the brand's claims, business model, and the founder's credentials.

Dr. Das, who promotes himself as an aromatherapist and naturopath, boasts a significant social media presence, including over 600,000 Instagram followers and 3.7 million YouTube subscribers. He claims that Lewisia Wellness uses only natural ingredients in its range of skin, hair, and wellness products.

The trouble began when the Sharks started questioning the authenticity of these claims. Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, pointed out the contradiction of claiming to avoid chemicals while the products themselves contained chemical components. Mohit Yadav of Minimalist further challenged the concept of "chemical-free" products, emphasizing that even water is technically a chemical. He clarified that marketing products as completely chemical-free is misleading. According to one source, the issue wasn't the claim of using natural ingredients, but the website's assertion of being "chemical-free," which is inaccurate since all ingredients have chemical compositions. The source suggested that transparency regarding the absence of toxic chemicals like parabens would be more appropriate and relevant.

Anupam Mittal of Shaadi.com raised concerns about the brand's growth strategy after reviewing clips from Das's social media accounts. He suggested that the brand's growth was driven more by provocative content than the effectiveness of its products. Mittal accused the founder of making baseless claims, exploiting consumers' insecurities, and misusing the title "doctor" without proper qualifications. The Sharks also questioned the brand's lack of clinical testing and the validity of claims made about the products.

Adding fuel to the fire, Anupam Mittal issued a strong warning about potential legal consequences, while the panel accused Das of misleading consumers. The founder's repeated reference to himself as a "doctor" also drew criticism, with judges cautioning him against using titles he wasn't authorized to use.

The pitch ended with a unanimous rejection, highlighting the Sharks' concerns about the brand's ethics and marketing practices. Social media users have also criticized Dr. Manoj Das' claims and business practices, with some labeling him as a "living example of how people scam through Instagram Reels".

The Lewisia Wellness pitch has ignited a broader conversation about the responsibility of wellness brands, particularly those that invoke spirituality or natural remedies. The incident serves as a reminder for consumers to approach such products with a critical eye and for entrepreneurs to prioritize transparency and ethical marketing practices.