Latest news with #SunilPatil
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Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tata Starbucks denies appointing Dolly Chaiwala as brand ambassador
Tata Starbucks, the Indian arm of the global coffee chain, on Monday issued a clarification denying social media speculation that it had appointed Dolly Chaiwala as its brand ambassador in India. In a statement on its official LinkedIn account, the company said, ' Tata Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala.' How the rumour started The speculation began after a meme showing Dolly Chaiwala with the Starbucks logo went viral online, leading many to believe that a formal partnership had been announced. The post was widely shared across social media platforms. 'A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign,' Tata Starbucks said, adding that it remains 'committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity'. As of now, Tata Starbucks has no brand ambassadors representing it in India. Who is Dolly Chaiwala? Sunil Patil aka Dolly Chaiwala, a tea vendor from Nagpur, became an internet sensation for his dramatic tea-serving style. His videos, widely circulated on Instagram and YouTube, showcase his theatrical approach to preparing and serving tea, which quickly earned him a large online following. His viral fame even led to a widely publicised encounter with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates last year, further boosting his popularity. Dolly has also featured in various marketing campaigns, including in an advertisement for Indian food delivery giant Swiggy. The rumour around Dolly Chaiwala's association with Tata Starbucks seemed credible to many against the backdrop of India's rapidly growing influencer marketing industry, which is expected to expand by 25 per cent this year from ₹3,600 crore in 2024. A recent report by The Goat Agency and Kantar noted that over 20 mergers and acquisitions took place in the last year alone, as traditional and digital-first agencies ramped up their influencer marketing capabilities. The Indian government's recent announcement of a $1 billion fund to support content creators has further normalised the idea of hyperlocal influencers entering mainstream campaigns — making the rumour about a Starbucks tie-up appear plausible.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Starbucks spills the tea on viral meme, denies collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala: 'No official brand ambassador in India'
Tata Starbucks on Monday, June 16, issued an official statement denying widespread rumours and ongoing speculations on social media suggesting the appointment of Dolly Chaiwala (real name is Sunil Patil), who is a popular tea vendor and internet sensation. Amid the growing rumours, the company issued a statement saying that there is no such partnership that exists, as per the narrative that emerged from a viral meme that has been misinterpreted as a formal endorsement. The confusion appears to have stemmed from a viral meme created by a third party that led to a 'misconstrued formal campaign'. Dolly Chaiwala became the brand ambassador of Starbucks India — Dixit Dave (@dixit_dave_) April 1, 2025 Starbucks denied any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala Starbucks, in a public statement, denied any collaboration with Sunil Patel, popularly known as Dolly Chaiwala. In the post, the company wrote, "We have noted recent social media posts suggesting that TATA Starbucks has appointed an official brand ambassador. We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered into any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala." Credit: LinkedIn The clarification comes in the wake of rumoured social media memes and digital articles claiming that Dolly Chaiwala, whose real name is Sunit Patil, had been officially appointed by the famous coffee brand. What really happened? According to the company, the claims regarding Dolly Chaiwala being the brand ambassador of TATA Starbucks India surfaced on social media from an April Fool's Day prank. The post was posted by an influencer called Aditya Oza. The post used a photoshopped picture of Dolly Chaiwala, and as soon as the fictional narrative dropped on the internet, it quickly went viral and instantly became a part of meme pages. However, many on social media pointed out that the image is fake. But now clarifying this, the company said, 'Tata Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity, and we value the trust of our customers and communities." Who is Dolly Chaiwala? Sunil Patil, also famously known as Dolly Chaiwala, is a tea seller from Nagpur who gained massive fame and became an internet sensation when his flamboyant tea-making style went viral after serving it to an American businessman and philanthropist, Bill Gates. Most recently, Patil also appeared on Indian reality shows, including Bigg Boss 18. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
15L value counterfeit notes seized, five arrested
Indore: Counterfeit notes to the value of Rs 15.41 lakh were seized in Dewas on Monday and five members of a gang were arrested. During the operation, currency printing machines, half-printed notes and two motorcycles were also recovered. The police received intelligence about two persons circulating fake currency. Under the directives of SP Puneet Gehlod, two special teams were formed. The teams caught Sachin Naagar and Shubham Verma, confiscating Rs 1.96 lakh in counterfeit notes and a bike from their possession. Interrogation of the two led police to Rajkumar Malviya, who was allegedly printing fake notes at his home in Sonkatch. A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the arrest of Malviya and his accomplice, Sunil Patil. Authorities recovered Rs 13.25 lakh in counterfeit Rs 500 notes along with note-printing equipment from their hideout. Further investigation led to the arrest of Shakti Singh Chawda. In total, five accused were caught, and a cache of equipment including a laptop, printer, scanning machine, half-printed notes and two motorcycles was seized, senior police officials said. Police investigations revealed the plan to manufacture fake currency was hatched while main accused Sunil Patil (38) of Burhanpur and Rajkumar Malviya (30) of Sonkatch were in Bhairugarh Jail. Upon their release, the duo activated their racket, leading to the production and distribution of counterfeit notes.
