Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Claims Swiggy Blocked His Return to Shark Tank India

According to a report, Swiggy has agreed to sponsor the upcoming season of Shark Tank India, but with a stipulation: Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal will not be allowed to return as an investor. The rivalry between food delivery apps Swiggy and Zomato has intensified, and the next season of Shark Tank India has become a focal point in this competition.

As reported by Moneycontrol, Swiggy is finalizing a deal to sponsor Season 4 for ₹40-60 crore, but insists that Goyal’s presence as a shark is a dealbreaker. This move highlights the fierce competition between the two companies in the food and grocery delivery sector. While they were initially neck-and-neck, Zomato has gained a significant lead in recent years. Neither Swiggy nor Sony Television has commented on the situation.

During the ET Startup Awards, Deepinder Goyal seemed to confirm this development, stating, “The startup culture in India often focuses too much on showmanship. I aimed to bring a different narrative and change perceptions. I felt a moral obligation to participate. I shot for one weekend and shared my views, but unfortunately, I can’t return because Swiggy sponsored Shark Tank and kicked me out—that’s what I heard.”

As for Shark Tank India, Sony Television recently began filming Season 4, featuring returning sharks Anupam Mittal (People Group), Aman Gupta (boAt Lifestyle), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), and Ritesh Agarwal (OYO). Deepinder made his debut as a shark in Season 3, receiving positive feedback from viewers for his engagement with the contestants.