Shark Tank India's Anupam Mittal opens up about the hardest habit to break. He said, 'I'm ghosting you'

Entrepreneurs are no strangers to tough decisions. From pivoting business models to making life-altering career calls, discipline is part of the job. But sometimes, it’s the smallest habits that are the hardest to shake. In a candid and cleverly written LinkedIn post, Shaadi.com founder and Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal opened up about quitting something that had stayed with him through thick and thin, not a business partner, but a cigarette a day.

Mittal revealed that in his twenties, he was a pack-a-day smoker, thriving on the hustle culture of long hours, fast food, late-night parties, and little sleep. Over time, he gave up most vices, but one cigarette remained. A constant companion through “funding rounds, heartbreaks, big wins, and bigger failures.”

"One cigarette a day. Like an old flame that refuses to leave," he wrote, adding a touch of humour and nostalgia to what felt like a heartfelt breakup letter. “People say, ‘Come on, it’s just one.’ Exactly. That’s what makes it harder,” he confessed. To him, it wasn’t just nicotine, it was a ritual. A moment of pause that represented “clarity, closure, control.” But now, as a family man, he’s decided it’s time to let go of what he calls a “situationship.” And in true millennial fashion, he ended the note with a cheeky farewell: “Goodbye pookie, I’m ghosting you.”


Internet reacts
Many users resonated deeply with Anupam Mittal’s candid post about quitting cigarettes. One person acknowledged how openly addressing small vices is a powerful form of self-reflection and wished him strength on his journey. Another shared a personal struggle, mentioning that they’ve been trying to quit smoking for 18 years without success. Many echoed the sentiment that giving up something that feels like an old friend is never easy, but recognising its impact and choosing to move on is a true sign of strength. Others reflected on the emotional side of the habit, pointing out that it’s not really about the cigarette itself, but the sense of control, certainty, and clarity it represents and that true transformation begins when you realise those feelings already exist within you, without the need for any crutch.