‘How Is This Possible?' Internet Reacts As Dolly Chaiwala Announces Franchise Plans
Dolly Chaiwala shot to global fame after serving tea to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Known for his flamboyant style and signature tea-serving flair, Dolly Chaiwala has become a household name far beyond his hometown of Nagpur, especially after his viral moment serving tea to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Now, he's expanding his brand nationwide. According to a recent post on his official Instagram page, Dolly Ki Tapri Nagpur, Dolly Chaiwala has announced pan-India franchise opportunities.
The post reads, '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 official Instagram page also shared a link via Stories for those interested in applying. According to the form, the Dolly Chaiwala franchise will be offered in three formats. The basic cart stall is priced between ₹4.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh. The store model is expected to cost around ₹20 to ₹22 lakh, while the flagship cafe model could range from ₹39 to ₹43 lakh.
The announcement also made its way to X (formerly Twitter), where a user alleged, 'Interestingly, the stall which he runs, Civil Lines, is still an encroachment on footpath."
Nagpur's Viral Chaiwala #DollyKiTapri now starts offering Franchises of its stalls.
•Stall Format- ₹4.5 to 6 Lakhs•Store Format- ₹20-22 Lakhs•Flagship Store- ₹39-43 Lakhs
Interestingly, the stall which he runs
The post soon caught attention online as many questioned how someone running an encroached stall could offer franchises.
One user wrote, 'The speed at which he is going, it's not sustainable. People always look for consistent quality vs different experience."
Another commented, 'How is this possible? An encroacher offering such things."
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'Just one Bill Gates visit made business model out of his viral tea making style," a person pointed out.
Dolly Chaiwala, whose real name is Sunil Patel, was born in 1998 in Nagpur. He began helping out at his family's tea stall from a young age. Today, Dolly Chaiwala has built a massive online following with over five million on Instagram and more than two million subscribers on YouTube. Despite his fame, he continues to run his roadside tea stall and sells around 350 to 500 cups every day. As per reports, his current net worth is estimated to be over Rs 10 lakh.
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First Published:
July 11, 2025, 13:57 IST
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