Latest news with #DollyChaiwala
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Is Dolly Chaiwala's Instagram account no longer available?
Dolly Chaiwala, the flamboyant tea-seller from Nagpur, whose flair for brewing chai made him a social media sensation, has unexpectedly disappeared from Instagram, leaving lakhs of followers surprised and disappointed. His account, once buzzing with videos of his signature moves, trendy clothes, flashy hairstyles, and oversized shades, has been deactivated without warning. Known for serving tea with a dramatic, Rajinikanth-style twist at his iconic stall, Dolly Ki Tapri, in Sitabuldi Civil Lines, Dolly has built a loyal fanbase both online and offline. Tourists, influencers, and locals line up daily just to catch a glimpse of the man who turned tea-making into performance art. Beyond Instagram, his presence remains strong on YouTube, where he has over two million subscribers. Dolly's rise to global fame reached a new high in February 2024 when none other than Bill Gates stopped by his stall for a cup of tea. The video, shared by Gates himself, catapulted Dolly into the international spotlight and earned him a surge of followers and brand deals. But Dolly isn't just basking in the spotlight, he's turning the buzz into business. He recently announced his expansion into the franchise world, inviting others to be part of what he calls 'India's first viral street brand.' 'It's India's first viral street brand, and now… it's a business opportunity,' he wrote in a now-viral post. 'From carts to flagship cafes, we're launching nationwide and looking for real people with real passion to carry this dream forward.' Through an application link shared in his Instagram Stories, he laid out the three formats for potential franchisees: a cart model costing between Rs 4.5 to Rs 6 lakh, a store model priced around Rs 20 to Rs 22 lakh, and a flagship café setup between Rs 39 to Rs 43 lakh.
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
From A Goldman Sachs Job To OnlyFans, The Lure Of The 'Creator Economy'
In a world where a Goldman Sachs employee trades spreadsheets for lingerie and opens an OnlyFans account (not sure if the below image is real or AI-generated), one can't help but wonder: is traditional education losing its relevance? Or do people just want easy money? What's with this 'I am done with corporate' chatter? Maybe these shifts - the move to content creation, the mass resignations, the pivot to passion projects - are a protest against a corporate culture that sold us stability but delivered burnout, that promised purpose but handed out PowerPoint decks. Maybe this isn't an exodus, after all. Two of my connections, after seeing the Goldman Sachs employee's story, jokingly wondered aloud if they, too, should try OnlyFans. And that's what prompted me to write this essay. The 'Creator Economy' is everything, everywhere, all at once. What used to be an 'alternate route' has now become a superhighway paved with brand deals, viral content, and digital fame. As the saying goes, money makes the man and the mare go. But in 2025, money also makes opinions louder, makes mediocrity trend, and makes sincerity seem suspicious. 'Jiofication' has brought 4G to every corner of India, and with it, there has been an explosion of digital content. Folks with zero exposure to editing software are now producing reel-worthy melodrama. Dolly Chaiwala is serving tea like he's at Coachella. There are pre-teens filming thirst traps in school uniforms. Instagram has become a bizarre marketplace of half-naked ambition, emotional trauma dressed as engagement, and sometimes, just plain vulgarity. The algorithm doesn't care if your reel is funny, fake, or feral. It simply, simply wants your audience to stop scrolling for a few seconds. Where Are The 'Achievers'? The rise of the creator economy has subtly brutalised the psyche of the 'toppers', the 'achievers', the ones who did everything right. They followed the rules, got the degrees, ticked the checkboxes, and yet now find themselves sidelined by viral dancers, meme-page moguls, and ex-accountants-turned-influencers selling gut health gummies. Their skills, discipline, and knowledge are barely valued in a world where charisma and content outperform competence. The result is a quiet, rising tide of impostor syndrome, burnout, and identity crisis. I'm not saying content creation is easy. Far from it. In fact, it's one of the most emotionally taxing, high-pressure, and unstable careers out there, where your self-worth is tied to algorithms, and one bad week of engagement feels like professional failure. You're constantly performing, optimising, and adapting, and yet, there are no real metrics for fulfilment. You're your own boss, sure, but also your own HR, marketing team, editor, copywriter, legal counsel, and punching bag. It demands creativity on tap and vulnerability in bulk, often without boundaries. So no, it's not easy. But what's frustrating is how the world glamorises it without nuance and devalues everything else in the process. So, do we still need an education to make a living? Unfair, But Real The new economy says, 'umm, not really'. The old narrative was: go to school, get a degree, get a job, climb the ladder, retire. The new one looks more like: drop out or barely graduate, make reels, build a following, monetise attention, work from anywhere, buy a drone. My friends are struggling to get jobs. The recession is here and real. One viral reel can earn you more than a master's degree. A meme page can get you brand sponsorships. A Twitter thread can land you a TED Talk. A podcast with a ring light can get you invited to Parliament panels. The Creator Economy, In Numbers Let's talk numbers. The global creator economy is projected to be worth over $480 billion by 2027. India alone has over 80 million creators. One in four Gen Z individuals says they want to be influencers when they grow up. Yet only about 5% of creators earn above Rs 50,000 a month. So, what's everyone else doing? They're hustling. Posting several times a day. Selling affiliate links. Copying-trending audio. Designing carousels about '10 things I learned in therapy' while suppressing their breakdowns. Because in the creator world, everyone's trying to get rich off attention. Dolly Chaiwala And A New Aspiration Meanwhile, the conversation around education remains painfully outdated. Grammarly is being used by ICSE/IB schools. Our children are still learning quadratic equations in a world ruled by Instagram algorithms. We are asking them to memorise facts when AI is generating poems, pitches, and pictures of dinosaurs drinking boba tea. In any case, Gen Z doesn't want to work in ways their parents did. And Gen Alpha… well, what they're learning today might be obsolete by next summer. Even my house help is trying to create content. She once asked me, ' Madam, aap Nagpur se ho na? Dolly Chaiwala ka kya secret hai? ' She doesn't fully understand what Dolly is selling. Neither do I. But she knows there's money in clout. Her cousin wants to start a YouTube channel. She asked if a ring light was available on Blinkit. This is the new aspiration. Apoorva Makhija, a Gen Z content creator, reportedly earned Rs 41 crore last year through her content. Somewhere, a software engineer with an MBA from IIM is debugging a slide deck and rethinking his life. Studied 14 hrs a day to crack India's toughest engineering exam, gave up home, friends, cousins, sleep, and dreams -got into IIT, then fought for 4+2 years with CGPA nightmares, lab viva trauma, and placement tension. Today? Not even 100 people know me. 🤡 Meanwhile… reels,… — DigitalSanghi🚩 (@digitalsangghi) June 30, 2025 So, what is the future of learning then? If AI can write essays, Canva can design resumes, and 1,29,783+ apps can teach you to edit videos, what exactly are we preparing children for? Are we training them to compete with machines or to collaborate with them? Are we teaching them how to think, how to be kind, how to build something without losing themselves to the dopamine loop of likes? Education isn't dead (yet). But it's hanging by a thread. We must teach kids how to understand emotional intelligence, how to navigate digital ethics, how to practice financial literacy, how to identify media manipulation, and how to create with conscience. And most importantly, we must teach them how to build offline self-worth in an online-first world. Until then, influencers will keep influencing, and teachers will keep wondering why no one's paying attention. When the dopamine dries up and the internet moves on to the next absurd thing, we'll need to be prepared. Not everyone can go viral. But everyone deserves the tools to build a life that doesn't collapse when the WiFi does. Class dismissed.
News18
17-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Dolly Chaiwala Opens Franchise Applications And He Has 1,600 Entries
Last Updated: Dolly Chaiwala, the viral tea-staller, has announced the launch of his business venture, receiving a plethora of applications to purchase the franchise. Sunil Patil, also known as Dolly Chaiwala on the internet, has announced the launch of his business franchise Dolly Ki Tapri through an expensive franchise model across India. A Nagpur-based tea seller, Patil gained viral fame for his unique tea-serving style and a video appearance with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. He has now ventured into the business world, while also declaring his plans to expand the new brand. '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. Applications open now." Patil wrote on his official social media channels, announcing the launch of 'Dolly Ki Tapri". The post contained a link to an application form through Instagram Stories, with three franchise options detailed for prospective business partners. Over 1,600 applications have already been received. Dolly Chaiwala Franchise Cost Dolly Chaiwala's application form lists cart stall, store model and flagship cafe models with the range of costs described. While a cart stall can be bought for Rs 4.5 lakhs to Rs 6 lakhs in the venture, the store model franchise is available for Rs 20-22 lakhs. Business partners eyeing the Flagship Café model will have to shell out Rs 39 lakh to Rs 43 lakh. These models are part of Patil's vision of growing the 'Dolly Ki Tapri" from just a viral internet sensation to a well-structured and functioning nationwide business entity. 'Dolly Ki Tapri" Stuns The Internet Again The announcement of the business venture caused a stir on the internet, as followers stood amazed by how far Patil's viral fame has taken him already. The post attracted millions of views and a flood of comments. 'From Burger Kayega to Burger Bechunga, Dolly has come a long way. All the best," said one user, before another commented: 'Meerut m chiye humko aapki franchise (want your franchise in Market)." Others expressed their jealousy of Dolly Chaiwala, stating they feel like burning their educational degrees. 'Education is a scam in India," wrote one, feeling hurt by his humongous fame. 'Just apni degree jala ke comment karne aaya hoon (came here after burning my degree)," said another. A third came up with some advice for Patil. 'Don't take any franchise .. Gotta cry tears of blood .. Already telling you .. This will make money and go to Dubai and you will be stuck here in a bank auction," the user wrote. view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 15:23 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dolly Chaiwala launches franchise, gets 1,600+ applications for outlets costing Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 40 lakh
Dolly Chaiwala franchise: Dolly Chaiwala, famed for his tea-serving style, plans to expand his brand. He calls it 'Dolly Ki Tapri' and will use a franchise model across India. Three franchise options are available, ranging from cart stalls to flagship cafes. The announcement received mixed reactions online. Dolly shares a message of hope for those from modest backgrounds. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Dolly Chaiwala Franchise model Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Dolly Chaiwala franchise post goes viral Dolly's journey from Nagpur tea cart to national brand Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Response to criticism and message to youth Sunil Patil, popularly known as Dolly Chaiwala, a Nagpur-based tea seller who gained viral fame for his unique tea-serving style and a video appearance with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has announced his entry into the business world. Patil declared plans to expand his brand 'Dolly Ki Tapri' through a franchise model across made the announcement through his official social media channels. In his post, he said,'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. Applications open now.'The post included a link to an application form through Instagram Stories. It detailed three franchise options for prospective business Dolly Chaiwala franchise application form lists the following models:Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakhRs 20 lakh to Rs 22 lakhRs 39 lakh to Rs 43 lakhAll models are part of Dolly's larger vision of growing 'Dolly Ki Tapri' from a viral sensation to a structured, nationwide franchise announcement drew widespread response online. Within 48 hours, more than 1,600 applications were on the post reflected a range of views. One user wrote, 'From Burger Kayega to Burger Bechunga, Dolly has come a long way. All the best.'Others were more cautious or critical. Another user commented, 'Don't take any franchise .. Gotta cry tears of blood .. Already telling you .. This will make money and go to Dubai and you will be stuck here in bank auction.'Some reactions questioned the rise of viral personalities in business spaces. One widely shared comment said, 'Education is scam in India.'Dolly Chaiwala started his career helping his family at a tea stall in Nagpur. With no formal education, he served tea on the streets for over two decades. His eye-catching serving style and fashion sense gradually attracted attention 2024, a short video of him serving tea to Bill Gates was shared widely across platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). That moment brought Dolly international recognition and marked the beginning of his business response to criticism of his background, Dolly shared a personal note online.'I didn't get the chance to go to school like many others. But I never gave up. Today, I feel lucky, but more than that, I feel proud.' He added, 'If even one boy or girl with no money, no degree, and no connections sees my story and believes, then every insult is worth it.'Patil positioned his franchise not only as a commercial venture but also as a message of hope for those from modest information in this article is based on the original post and updates shared by Dolly Chaiwala via social media platforms.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dolly Chaiwala opens franchise, expands across India from viral street stall in Nagpur; netizens reacts, ‘Education is scam in India'
Source: Instagram Dolly Chaiwala, also known as Sunil Patil, has transformed from a humble tea seller in Nagpur to an internet sensation and now, an ambitious entrepreneur ready to launch his own chai franchise across India. Best known for his quirky tea-serving style, colourful fashion, and a viral collaboration with Bill Gates in 2024, Dolly's journey represents the grit and imagination of grassroots India. Within just two days of announcing his franchise plan, he received over 1,600 applications, proving that his brand of 'desi and legendary' chai is more than just a local favourite — it's a movement. Dolly Chaiwala announces new franchise opportunities On social media, Dolly announced the launch of his pan-India franchise model, calling it 'India's first viral street brand.' In his post, he invited 'real people with real passion' to join the movement and help scale his vision — from chai carts to flagship cafés. 'Limited cities. Unlimited chai. Applications open now,' his announcement read. Within 48 hours, 1,609 franchise applications poured in , showcasing the excitement around Dolly's story and his powerful brand of chai entrepreneurship. Dolly Chaiwala three-tier franchise model unveiled Dolly's Instagram story included an application form outlining three franchise formats: Chai Cart Stall: Rs 4.5 lakh – Rs 6 lakh Store Model: Rs 20 lakh – Rs 22 lakh Flagship Café: Rs 39 lakh – Rs 43 lakh Each model offers aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to carry forward the 'Dolly Ki Tapri' legacy in cities across India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Dolly Chaiwala's journey from Nagpur tea cart to global recognition Dolly Chaiwala began selling tea from a street cart in Nagpur to support his family. With no access to formal education, he built his career the hard way — serving tea for over 20 years, rain or shine. His dedication and charisma slowly caught attention, but it was his stylish flair, smooth pouring skills, and social media presence that turned his cart into a cultural phenomenon. In 2024, Dolly went viral globally when he appeared in a video serving tea to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The collaboration, shared widely across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), boosted Dolly's reach beyond India and into the international spotlight. This unexpected meeting helped solidify his place as India's most iconic chaiwala, turning his passion into a growing business brand. Mixed reactions on social media over Dolly Chaiwala new franchise opening Despite his rising fame, Dolly has faced trolling for his lack of education and street vendor background. In a heartfelt post, he addressed his critics: 'I didn't get the chance to go to school like many others. But I never gave up. Today, I feel lucky — but more than that, I feel proud.' He emphasised that the franchise is not just a business, but a symbol of hope for those who start with nothing but a dream. 'If even one boy or girl with no money, no degree, and no connections sees my story and believes — then every insult is worth it.' The franchise announcement sparked wide reactions. While many applauded Dolly for breaking barriers, others raised questions about the commercialization of viral fame. One viral comment read, 'Education is a scam in India,' receiving over 8,500 likes, reflecting a deeper conversation about grassroots success vs. traditional paths. Also Read | Saina Nehwal announces separation from husband - Who is Parupalli Kashyap, his net worth and all you need to know
