‘Relax!’: Anupam Mittal shares a hilarious New Year message amid buzz and debate on Shark Tank India 4 about 70-hour work week

Anupam Mittal has a special New Year message for his fans amid all the speculation surrounding Shark Tank India Season 4.

The show’s judge and Shaadi.com founder recently wished his fans a Happy New Year, while also sharing a message for those “worried” about 70-hour work weeks.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mittal asked all those worried about the 70-hour workweek to “relax.” “All those who are worried about 70 hour work weeks, relax! AI will take over our jobs, so we will have all the time to relax in 2025. Happy New Year,” he wrote.

In response to Mittal’s post, one user wrote: “AI in 2025: You guys did a 70-hour work week, we’ll work a 70-minute week.” Another commented, “This doesn’t really elevate Anupam!”

The 70-hour workweek was proposed by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and has been at the center of the debate. Murthy defended his position by saying the same: “We have to work hard and work to make India number one.” He also cited the example of Chinese workers who are 3.5 times more productive than Indians and added: “If we keep making excuses, we will remain miserable, dirty and poor.”

Murthy’s proposal for a 70-hour work week has received mixed reactions.

Recently, Gautam Adani said that one feels balanced when one does the things one loves to do, while adding life becomes simple when one accepts the fact that one is mortal.

“Your work-life balance should not be imposed on me, and your work-life balance should not be imposed on you. Let’s say someone spends four hours with family and finds enjoyment in it, or if someone else spends eight hours and enjoys it, that’s his credit,” one man noted. “Although if you spend eight hours, the wife will run away,” the industry jokes.

Mittal denied this obsession with working long hours and described it as “a big lie told to this generation.” Reflecting on his early days working 16-hour shifts in the United States, Mittal saw that success stems from effort and strategy, not from time spent. For Mittal, young professionals should push themselves in the early years of their career to build character and achieve extraordinary results.

The reality for founders and employees is very different, explained Mittal co-host Namita Thapar, who is also one of the judges on Shark Tank India. “Founders like me have deep pockets and can afford to work around the clock, but employees can’t,” she said. She added that demanding continuous working hours from employees could lead to serious consequences for physical and mental health.

Murthy’s demand for longer working hours has sparked controversy since October last year when he first proposed the idea. While some supported the move, arguing that it could boost productivity, many criticized it, noting that longer working hours do not necessarily translate into higher production.

Meanwhile, the trailer for Shark Tank India season 4 was unveiled last month. The upcoming season of the show will see some regular faces, as well as some new faces on the judging panel. Kunal Bahl (Co-Founder, Snapdeal and Titan Capital) and Viraj Bahl (Founder and Managing Director, Veeba) will be the new judges in the final season of the hit show.