Premiered October 20, 2025, on JioHotstar Specials
Lucknow / Mumbai: Sanjay Nigam, the mastermind behind the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF), has stitched together a dazzling tapestry of ambition, drama, and innovation with Pitch to Get Rich, a reality series that premiered on JioHotstar on October 20, 2025, and has already clocked over 8 million streams. This eight-episode juggernaut, produced in partnership with Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment and powered by Vimal Elaichi, is less a TV show and more a cultural moment—blending the high-stakes intensity of Shark Tank with the runway razzle-dazzle of Project Runway, all while championing India’s Make in India ethos.
Nigam’s vision—to bridge raw creativity with scalable capital—comes alive in a series that’s as educational as it is entertaining, making it a must-binge for anyone who dreams of turning sketches into empires.
The Premise: Couture Meets Capital
Pitch to Get Rich follows 14 emerging fashion entrepreneurs—from sustainable textile innovators to avant-garde ethnic wear disruptors—as they vie for a slice of a ₹40 crore investment pool. Each contestant pitches their startup to a formidable panel of judges: Bollywood heavyweights Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar, Manish Malhotra, and Malaika Arora, alongside business titans like Naveen Jindal, Dhruv Sharma, Ravi Jaipuria, and Sanjay Nigam himself.
The format is crisp: contestants pitch, face grilling questions, showcase mini-runways, and navigate challenges like supply chain snafus or last-minute design pivots—all under the ticking clock of prime-time drama. The stakes? Life-changing funding, mentorship, and a shot at global runways.
The Sanjay Nigam Factor
Nigam is the show’s beating heart—not just as a judge but as its philosophical anchor. As FEF’s founder, he brings a rare blend of empathy and exactitude, often cutting through Bollywood banter with laser-focused feedback that grounds the flashier moments.
In Episode 2, when a contestant’s eco-friendly athleisure pitch falters on scalability, Nigam’s gentle but firm reminder—“Passion is your thread, but profit is your fabric”—becomes a masterclass in balancing dreams with data. Off-screen, his influence is palpable in the show’s slick production and its emphasis on diverse talent—from a Lucknow chikankari innovator to a Mumbai streetwear maverick using AI for sizing.
Nigam’s hometown pride (he’s a Lucknow native) shines through, especially in episodes spotlighting Awadhi crafts, making the series feel like a love letter to Indian ingenuity.
What Works
Dynamic Casting: The 14 founders are a revelation—a vibrant mix of ages, regions, and aesthetics. Standouts include a 22-year-old from Guwahati blending Assamese silk with blockchain traceability and a 40-something Chennai designer pivoting saris into modular workwear. Their backstories, from overcoming funding droughts to defying family expectations, add emotional heft without veering into sob-story clichés.
Judging Chemistry: The panel is pure dynamite. Johar’s wit and Malhotra’s couture expertise clash deliciously with Jindal’s no-nonsense ROI demands, while Kumar’s star power and Arora’s flair keep the energy electric. Nigam plays the sage mediator, grounding debates with insights drawn from FEF’s real-world successes.
Production Polish: Dharmatic Entertainment delivers cinematic flair, with drone shots of runway challenges and boardroom close-ups that capture every bead of sweat. The soundtrack—a mix of Bollywood bangers and runway-ready EDM—amplifies the drama without overpowering it.
Educational Edge: Beyond the glamour, the show sneaks in masterclasses on pitching, branding, and sustainability. Episode 3’s “Fabric Fiasco” challenge, where founders must salvage a botched textile delivery, is a gritty lesson in crisis management that feels ripped from startup reality.
What Could Be Better
Pacing Hiccups: At times, the show leans too heavily into manufactured drama—a mid-season cliffhanger involving a “stolen design” feels forced and underresolved. Streamlining some subplots could tighten the narrative.
Judge Balance: While the star-studded panel is a draw, quieter voices like Dhruv Sharma get overshadowed by Johar’s theatrics or Kumar’s charisma. More space for the business-heavy judges could deepen the investment angle.
Accessibility for Non-Fashion Folks: The show assumes a baseline love for fashion, which might alienate viewers unfamiliar with terms like “drape innovation” or “circular supply chains.” A touch more context could broaden its appeal.
Cultural Impact
Since its October 20 drop, Pitch to Get Rich has sparked a social media frenzy, with #PitchToGetRich trending daily and fan edits of Nigam’s one-liners (like “Stitch the vision, sell the victory”) going viral on TikTok. The show’s Men in Black campaign, especially its Lucknow leg, has fueled regional pride, with Awadhi designers gaining followers overnight.
JioHotstar reports a 300% spike in fashion brand searches post-premiere, proving the series isn’t just entertaining but economically catalytic. Nigam’s push for sustainability—spotlighting brands using upcycled plastics or vegan leather—aligns with global trends, making the show a timely player in the conscious consumerism wave.
Verdict
Pitch to Get Rich is a triumph of style and substance, with Sanjay Nigam as its linchpin—a visionary who makes entrepreneurship as seductive as a runway finale. It’s not flawless; the occasional over-dramatization and niche jargon might trip up casual viewers. But for anyone who’s ever dreamed of turning a passion into a paycheck, this series is a masterclass wrapped in sequins.
With Season 2 already teased at the Club Momentz Lucknow bash, Nigam’s revolution is just getting started. Binge it on JioHotstar, and brace for a world where fashion doesn’t just meet finance—it slays it.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (8.5/10)
Where to Watch: All eight episodes streaming now on JioHotstar Specials.
Why Watch: For the thrill of seeing raw talent transform into funded futures—with Nigam’s mentorship stealing the show.
