Nagpur’s famous tea seller Dolly Chaiwala rose to fame after serving tea to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during his visit to Hyderabad.
Since then, Dolly has become a highly sought-after figure for events and public appearances, thanks to his unique tea-making style and charming personality. His popularity has even led to invitations for talk shows and gatherings, but his appearance comes with a significant price tag.
Recently, a food vlogger known as AK Food Vlog shared his experience of trying to invite Dolly Chaiwala to an event in Kuwait. The vlogger, in a video shared on Instagram by Taiyab Fakhruddhn, disclosed the surprising cost of having Dolly attend the event. He said, “I called Dolly Chaiwala because I wanted to invite him to Kuwait, but the guy has so many demands that I started questioning my own existence.”
According to the vlogger, Dolly Chaiwala charges around 2,500 Kuwaiti Dinars (roughly Rs. 5 lakh) for a one-day appearance. He further added, “That’s not it! Along with the fee, he also requires accommodations in a 4 or 5-star hotel and will bring an additional person with him. His manager relayed these details to me.”
Here is the video which was posted with caption, “@akfoodvlogg shares his personal experience of inviting @dolly_ki_tapri_nagpur And shares how much money he makes.”
Click to watch this video directly on Instagram
Many online users have slammed AK Food Vlog for talking about Dolly Chaiwala in a little disrespectful manner as they feel that Dolly Chaiwala has made decent demands as far his fees and accommodation conditions are concerned. Some even slammed AK Food Vlog for showing elite mindset while several others supported Dolly Chaiwala, saying that he is demanding what he deserves.
Despite selling each cup of tea for just Rs. 7, Dolly Chaiwala’s daily earnings range between Rs. 2,450 and Rs. 3,500 as he serves about 350 to 500 cups daily. His net worth has reportedly crossed Rs. 10 lakh, thanks to his widespread fame and thriving business.
Dolly’s rise to stardom began in February when Bill Gates visited India and shared a video on Instagram, in which he ordered tea from Dolly in Hyderabad. In the video, Gates is seen saying, “One chai, please,” as Dolly prepares a cup of tea in his signature style on a special cart. Gates is then seen enjoying the hot tea from a glass, ending the video with the line, “Looking forward to many chai pe charcha”.
After his return to Nagpur, Dolly revealed in an interview with ANI that he had no idea he had served tea to one of the world’s richest men. “I was not aware at all. I thought he was just a foreign tourist, so I served him tea,” Dolly said. Reflecting on the experience, he added, “He [Bill Gates] said ‘Wow, Dolly ki Chai.’ We didn’t speak much, as I was busy with my work. Today, I feel like I’ve become ‘Nagpur ka Dolly chaiwala.’ In the future, I hope to serve tea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Here’s the video:
Have you tried Dolly’s chai?