Two days after announcing his ambitious plans to launch a franchise, Nagpur-based tea seller Sunil Patil, famously known as Dolly Chaiwala, has received 1,609 applications. The internet sensation, popular for his quirky serving style and a viral collaboration with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is now expanding his humble tea stall into a nationwide business opportunity.
In a statement, Dolly thanked his well-wishers for their support and addressed being trolled for his background and lack of formal education. "I didn’t get the chance to go to school like many others,” Dolly shared. “But I spent 20 years behind my tea cart, in the sun and rain, through bad days and good, hoping that one day things might change. I never gave up. Today, I feel lucky — but more than that, I feel proud.”
The franchise announcement, he said, is more than just a business move; it's "a symbol of possibility for the millions who start life with nothing but a dream."
“People can laugh at me or call me names,” Dolly asserted. “But if even one boy or girl with no money, no degree, and no connections sees my story and believes that they can build something of their own — then every insult is worth it.”
Announcing the franchise on social media, he wrote, “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 announcement included a link to an application form via his Instagram story, detailing three franchise formats: a cart stall priced between Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh, a store model at Rs 20 lakh to Rs 22 lakh, and a flagship cafe at Rs 39 lakh to Rs 43 lakh.
The post quickly went viral, drawing a mixed bag of reactions. While many social media users congratulated Dolly on his remarkable growth, others voiced concerns, highlighting what they perceive as the increasing commercialization of viral figures. One user notably commented, “Education is a scam in India.” The comment received about 8,500 likes.
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