Remember Dolly Chaiwala? Yes, the man who was not only popular for his ‘chaiwala’ Instagram reels and ‘unique’ hairstyle and dressing style– but also that
ONE Indian tea seller who even sold ‘chai’ to one of the richest men in the world, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates! Yes, you read that correctly. All in all, a small-town man from a rather humble background, who eventually changed his life by selling tea! However, where is the man now? Let’s take a look at his rather inspiring journey… Who is Dolly Chaiwala? Before jumping into his current life, let’s take a look at who Dolly Chaiwala was and where it all began. Sunil Patil, more popularly by the name Dolly Chaiwala, hailed from Nagpur. As per multiple reports, he was compelled to drop out of school at a young age– to help his family. Eventually, he began running a small roadside tea stall– which went viral, not because of some very unique or mouthwatering ‘chai’ that he was serving, but because of his flamboyant style. From the dramatic way he was serving tea to the eyegoggles that he used to wear while serving his customers, and from his bold attires to his Instagram reels that only gained more views, likes and love with every passing day- Dolly Chaiwala was ruling social media. The extraordinary journey: With time, his social media handles began to gain more and more followers– and then came 2024- the year when his popularity led him to serve ‘chai’ to Bill Gates! His fame only manifolded after that, as he was all over national and international headlines. A clip of the same had shown him doing his tricks before handing the cup to Gates. Where is Dolly Chaiwala now? Today, the man is the owner of a franchise! In 2025, Dolly Chaiwala again made waves, after he launched his own franchise; ‘Dolly Ki Tapri’. He further described the venture as ‘India's first viral street brand’. An announcement of the same was also shared on Instagram, which had read, “Announcement. The Dolly Chai Wala Franchise is officially open. It's India's first viral street brand, and now... It's a business opportunity. From carts to flagship cafes, we're launching nationwide and looking for real people with real passion to carry this dream forward. If you've ever wanted to build something big, something desi, something truly legendary – this is your moment. Limited cities. Unlimited chai. Yeh India ka pehla viral street brand hai – aur ab yeh ek zabardast business mauka ban chuka hai. Applications open now.” The official Instagram page also shared a link for those looking to apply. As per the form, the Dolly Chaiwala franchise will be available in three formats: a basic cart stall priced between Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh, a store model ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 22 lakh, and a flagship café setup costing between Rs 39 lakh and Rs 43 lakh. ALSO READ: ‘Bachpan Ka Pyar’ Kid– From Mere Schoolboy To Rap With Badshah– Where Is Sahdev Dirdo Now? Recently, Dolly Chaiwala also shared a video of his birthday celebration. The video was shared yesterday, with the caption, “Birthday In Logo Ke Saat.” Apart from celebrating with his near and dear ones, the man was also seen distributing blankets to homeless people. Check out the viral video:
