Dolly Chaiwala gets 1,609 requests for his franchise 'despite hate': 'People can laugh at me but...'

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.”