Shark Tank India Season 5 has experienced an unexpected transformation which has surprised both the startup community and the entertainment industry. Mamaearth’s Ghazal Alagh, one of the most recognisable judges on the show, has stepped away from the panel. Her husband and business partner Varun Alagh has become the newest shark on the show to replace her. The decision has generated extensive discussion among viewers and entrepreneurs and industry experts. The judging dynamics of the show have changed significantly through the transition which brought Varun Alagh to the role of judge after Ghazal Alagh.

Who Is Varun Alagh?

The Indian entrepreneur Varun Alagh leads businesses as a co-founder and chief executive officer of Honasa Consumer Limited which operates Mamaearth as its main brand. Varun has developed himself into a key person who establishes one of India most reliable personal care brands through his deep knowledge of marketing.

The public knows Varun Alagh as the person who created Mamaearth into its current state through his digital-first approach that resulted in the brand’s rapid expansion. His work as a Shark Tank India judge brings new insights which examine consumer products and brand development and sustainable business expansion.

Varun Alagh Biography: Early Life and Education

Varun Alagh biography reflects a blend of technical education and business expertise.

• Varun Alagh was born in India and completed his early education there.
• He pursued Electrical Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering (now Delhi Technological University).
• Later, he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Management with a focus on marketing and finance from XLRI Jamshedpur.

This academic background helped Varun develop analytical thinking combined with strong marketing instincts, which later proved crucial in building Mamaearth.

Corporate Career Before Entrepreneurship

Before launching his own startup, Varun Alagh gained extensive experience working with top multinational corporations. His corporate career began with him taking executive positions at major food and beverage companies. The experience he gained during this work phase provided him with comprehensive knowledge about brand positioning and consumer trust and large-scale business operations. The experience with global brands taught him about international product development and marketing strategies and their implementation across various markets.

The Birth of Mamaearth: A Personal Problem Turned Business Idea

Varun Alagh and Ghazal Alagh established Mamaearth in 2016 as a company. The couple developed their business concept after they experienced difficulties finding safe, chemical-free products for their child. 

Mamaearth exists to serve Indian families by delivering personal care products which meet their requirements for safety and natural composition and complete protection from harmful substances. 

At a time when consumers lacked knowledge about product ingredients, Mamaearth established itself as a brand which customers could trust because of its commitment to ingredient disclosure.

Mamaearth’s Rise as a Consumer Brand

Under the leadership of Varun Alagh, Mamaearth followed a digital-first growth model. The brand focused heavily on:

• Online sales platforms
• Influencer marketing
• Social media engagement
• Direct customer feedback

This strategy helped Mamaearth scale rapidly and build strong brand loyalty.

Over the years, the company expanded its product categories to include skincare, haircare, baby care, and wellness products. Mamaearth also became the foundation for launching other brands under Honasa Consumer Limited.

Mamaearth’s Ghazal Alagh: The Face of the Brand

Ghazal Alagh has gained recognition as the co-founder of Mamaearth and she serves as one of the most famous judges from the previous seasons of Shark Tank India. 

Public recognition of Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh emerged because she dedicated herself to creating innovative products and maintaining their authentic quality through sustainable business practices. The show featured her as a calm yet self-assured individual who became a role model for women entrepreneurs throughout India.

Why Did Ghazal Alagh Exit Shark Tank India Season 5?

The official statement about Ghazal Alagh’s departure from Shark Tank India Season 5 remains unavailable to the public. The industry believes that Ghazal Alagh left the show because of her essential work obligations and her need to fulfill her strategic business duties. 

Ghazal Alagh is dedicating her attention to business growth and her responsibilities as a leader and developing long-term strategies for brand development according to industry experts. 

Varun Alagh took over her position which allowed Mamaearth to maintain its entrepreneurial presence on the show through his role.

Varun Alagh Joins Shark Tank India Season 5

The announcement of Varun Alagh Shark Tank debut in Season 5 showed instant popularity among viewers. The entry of Varun Alagh into the show provides an in-depth examination of consumer brands and digital scaling and performance marketing. Varun Alagh presents himself as an investor who brings new expertise to the field because he built his Indian D2C business from the ground up.

Varun Alagh Net Worth in 2025

Varun Alagh net worth is a topic of high interest following his appointment as a Shark Tank India judge.

As of recent estimates, Varun Alagh net worth is believed to be around ₹120 crore.

His wealth primarily comes from:

• Equity ownership in Honasa Consumer Limited
• Growth of Mamaearth and sister brands
• Strategic investments and leadership roles

This net worth reflects not just financial success, but also influence within India’s startup ecosystem.

What Makes Varun Alagh a Strong Shark Tank Judge

Varun Alagh brings hands-on experience in scaling brands from zero to market leaders.

Key strengths he adds to the Shark Tank India panel include:

• Deep understanding of consumer psychology
• Expertise in digital marketing and branding
• Experience with fundraising and valuation
• Knowledge of supply chain and product development

For founders pitching on Shark Tank India Season 5, Varun’s insights could be particularly valuable.

Shark Tank India Season 5: A Changing Panel

The show now features a new judging panel which combines traditional business experts with current startup entrepreneurs after Varun Alagh joined Shark Tank India Season 5. 

The company now focuses on assessing contemporary consumer products because Varun Alagh joined the team to evaluate digital brands that can expand their operations. 

The Indian startup ecosystem now supports D2C brands and tech-enabled businesses which have become essential components of its development.

Public Reaction to the Ghazal–Varun Transition

The show has received mixed online reactions from its fans. The audience reacted to Ghazal Alagh’s departure with disappointment while they showed excitement about Varun Alagh’s arrival. The Shark Tank interactions of Varun Alagh will demonstrate to entrepreneurs how his business approach differs from his wife. Most people believe that the transition maintains Mamaearth’s business spirit throughout the show.

The Business Partnership of Varun and Ghazal Alagh

Varun Alagh and Ghazal Alagh represent one of India’s most successful husband-wife entrepreneurial partnerships.

Their collaboration combines:

• Varun’s expertise in strategy and growth
• Ghazal’s strength in innovation and brand identity

Together, they transformed Mamaearth into a household name and inspired thousands of aspiring founders.

What Founders Can Learn From Varun Alagh

As a Shark Tank India judge, Varun Alagh is expected to emphasise:

• Strong unit economics
• Clear brand differentiation
• Long-term customer trust
• Sustainable growth strategies

His advice is likely to resonate with founders building consumer-focused startups.

The Impact of Mamaearth on Indian Startup Culture

D2C startups in India use Mamaearth’s success story as their standard for performance evaluation. The brand demonstrated that Indian startups can successfully compete against international companies through their capability to develop new products and maintain operational transparency and secure customer trust. 

Varun Alagh’s appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5 serves as proof of this concept while he inspires entrepreneurs to establish ambitious business objectives.

Overall Summary

Shark Tank India Season 5 reaches its critical point through the departure of Mamaearth executive Ghazal Alagh and the arrival of Varun Alagh. Although spectators will miss Ghazal’s presence, Varun brings a new perspective which focuses on organizational growth to the panel.

The biography of Varun Alagh together with his net worth information demonstrates why he should appear on the show. 

The show Shark Tank India has undergone this transformation because new-generation business leaders now hold power to determine India’s commercial landscape.

Content inspiration source: indiatoday