Roasted shark? Ashneer Grover faces backlash over legal tussle with comedian Aashish Solanki

Ashneer Grover, known for his blunt persona on the Indian edition of Shark Tank, has once again found himself embroiled in a controversy, this time involving a popular comedy roast. The co-founder and former managing director of BharatPe, Grover is no stranger to the limelight, but his latest escapade has stirred considerable buzz of the negative kind on social media.

Grover recently featured on "Pretty Good Roast," a show hosted by comedian Aashish Solanki. During the episode, Solanki made light of Grover's tumultuous exit from BharatPe — a topic that has been a hot-button issue ever since Grover and his wife were ousted from the fintech startup in 2022 amid allegations of financial impropriety.

The roast, which included jabs at Grover’s departure from his own company, quickly became a viral sensation. However, the humour did not sit well with Grover. He reportedly demanded the removal of the segments featuring these jokes and subsequently sent Solanki a legal notice to take down the entire episode. Solanki complied, announcing on Instagram:

"Friends, I have removed the Ep 5 of Pretty Good Roast. I don't have money to fight the legal battle. I had spent all of it on the show," he stated, highlighting the financial strain legal actions can impose on independent creators.

Solanki also expressed his disappointment, noting, "The response on previous episodes led us to believe our audience were ready for roast humour. However, it seems that some, especially those in power, are not quite there yet."

This incident has triggered a wave of backlash against Grover, with many accusing him of "doglapan" (duplicity). The term gained popularity during Grover’s stint on Shark Tank India and even became the title of his book, "Doglapan: The Hard Truth about Life and Start-Ups." Social media users were quick to point out the irony of Grover, who once prided himself on his no-holds-barred attitude, now seeking to censor comedic content.


The controversy draws attention to Grover's complex public persona. After his high-profile exit from BharatPe, Grover pivoted to content creation, leveraging his fame to build a substantial following on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and various podcasts. He has even claimed that he has made more money through content creation than during his tenure at BharatPe.

Despite his success as a content creator, Grover’s latest actions have sparked a debate about the boundaries of humour and criticism, especially concerning public figures. The legal threat against Solanki underscores the precarious balance comedians must navigate when their satire targets influential individuals.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Ashneer Grover remains a polarising figure. His journey from a controversial entrepreneur to a content creator and now to a central figure in a comedy roast controversy reflects the multifaceted and often contentious nature of public life.