Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Indian tea vendor Dolly Chaiwala's video with Bill Gates goes viral

While the internet buzzed about the video, Chaiwala remained oblivious to the identity of his special customer

Indian tea vendor Dolly Chaiwala's video with Bill Gates goes viral

The netizens recently saw the collaboration of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh with Johnny Sins to promote a men's sexual health product.

Recently, Microsoft founder Bill Gates dropped a video on his social media handle in collaboration with an internet sensation from the Indian city of Nagpur, Dolly Chaiwala, a tea vendor.


In the video, shot in another city in India, Dolly Chaiwala can be seen pouring milk in his unique style and serving tea to Bill Gates.

Gates requested "one chai, please" from Chaiwala in the video. The tea seller then prepares the beverage with his signature flair, offering a glimpse into the art of making the beloved Indian beverage. Gates is seen enjoying the chai and expressing his appreciation for India's innovative spirit.

He uploaded the video while he was on a trip to India, and scheduled a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He captioned the video, "In India, you can find innovation everywhere you turn—even in the preparation of a simple cup of tea!"

But who is this Dolly Chaiwala, who became an overnight internet sensation?

For starters, Dolly Chaiwala aka Sunil runs a stall near the old VCA stadium in Nagpur, a city in the Indian state. He has garnered a loyal following online for his entertaining videos showcasing his tea-making skills.

While the internet buzzed about the video, Chaiwala remained oblivious to the identity of his special customer.  As reported by PTI, he said "I had no idea, I thought he was just a man from a foreign country. It was only after returning to Nagpur the next day that I learned about the video's virality and the true identity of the man I had served."

Despite the initial lack of recognition, Chaiwala is now basking in the newfound fame. He has expressed his desire to someday serve tea to another prominent figure Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His distinctive demeanour, actions, and stylish tea-serving techniques have led to him being affectionately nicknamed the desi Johnny (Johnny Depp).

This unexpected encounter sent shockwaves through the internet, leaving netizens in a state of disbelief and amusement, deeming it "The most unexpected collab ever."

dolly-chaiwala Dolly Chaiwala, aka Sunil (Photo credit: dollychaiwala)

As Indians expressed their excitement, reactions flooded in, with some humorously noting the contrast between cringe-worthy collaborations and the simplicity of a Chaiwala stealing the spotlight.

Comparisons were drawn, with one user joking about Bill Gates not making a cameo in a Bollywood movie (Half Girlfriend) but collaborating with a chaiwala in Nagpur. Some likened Dolly Chaiwala to the Salt Bae of India, while others emphasized that it was an unexpected collaboration that, despite not being wanted, was needed.

The video, capturing Gates eagerly engaging in 'Chai Pe Charcha' during his India visit, has garnered an impressive 11 million views on the platform.

More For You

Google

There are two new models: Imagen 4 and Imagen 4 Ultra

iStock

Google launches Imagen 4 text-to-image model for free on AI Studio

Key points

  • Google rolls out Imagen 4, its advanced text-to-image model, for free on AI Studio
  • The offer is available for a limited time only
  • Two versions announced: Imagen 4 and Imagen 4 Ultra
  • Imagen 4 Ultra delivers higher accuracy at a higher price
  • Gemini integration is expected for paid users soon

Google debuts upgraded text-to-image tool

Google has launched Imagen 4, its latest text-to-image generation model, now available for free via AI Studio for a limited time. The tool promises substantial improvements over its predecessor, Imagen 3, especially in image quality and text generation accuracy.

According to Google’s announcement, there are two new models: Imagen 4 and Imagen 4 Ultra. Imagen 4 is optimised for general use cases and is priced at $0.04 per image when not using the free offer. Imagen 4 Ultra, the more advanced option, costs $0.06 per image and is designed to follow text prompts with greater precision.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stop Killing Games

Scott, known online as Accursed Farms, has spent the past year rallying public and political support.

Activision

Final push for 'Stop Killing Games' as Ross Scott prepares to step back

Key points

  • Ross Scott (Accursed Farms) launched the Stop Killing Games campaign in 2023 after Ubisoft announced it would shut down The Crew permanently
  • The initiative aims to protect consumer access to games after publishers withdraw support
  • Petitions in both the UK and EU are nearing their deadlines: July 14 (UK) and July 3 (EU)
  • Despite wide support, the EU Citizens’ Initiative remains short of its 1 million-signature target
  • Scott plans to step away from campaigning after July, citing burnout and financial strain

Campaign to preserve games faces critical deadline

With less than a month remaining, the Stop Killing Games initiative launched by YouTuber and gaming advocate Ross Scott is approaching its final deadline. The campaign, which seeks to protect players’ access to games even after publishers shut down their servers, was sparked by Ubisoft’s decision to permanently disable The Crew in 2023.

Scott, known online as Accursed Farms, has spent the past year rallying public and political support. Despite media attention and significant effort, the campaign's key goal, a European Citizens’ Initiative reaching one million signatures, remains unmet.

Keep ReadingShow less
Axiom Mission 4

(From left) Axiom Mission 4 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Commander Peggy Whitson, and Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski wave from inside the Space Dragon spacecraft. (Photo: NASA)

NASA

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla and 3 others dock at ISS after 28-hour journey

INDIA’s Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts entered the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday after a 28-hour journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft. The crew received warm hugs and handshakes upon arrival as the capsule docked with the orbital laboratory.

The spacecraft, named Grace and fifth in the Dragon series, made a soft capture with the ISS’s Harmony module at 4:01 pm IST while flying over the North Atlantic Ocean. Full docking procedures, including power links and pressure checks, took about two more hours to complete.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rajasthan Royals owner accuses former partner of blackmail
Manoj Badale (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Rajasthan Royals owner accuses former partner of blackmail

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals' majority owner has accused his former co-owner of trying to blackmail him by alleging he was defrauded out of his minority stake in the club.

London-based venture capitalist Manoj Badale and his company Emerging Media Ventures are suing businessman Raj Kundra at London's High Court for allegedly breaching a 2019 confidential settlement agreement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Isha Ambani at Serpentine summer party in London

Guests including Isha Ambani celebrate culture and sustainability at London’s biggest summer art gathering

Instagram/vogueindia

Isha Ambani becomes first Indian to lead Serpentine summer party in London

Quick highlights

  • Isha Ambani Piramal led the host committee for the 2025 Serpentine Summer Party in London.
  • She wore a vintage Valentino dress first seen at Paris Fashion Week in 2019.
  • The event featured South Asian voices including architect Marina Tabassum and artist Subodh Gupta.
  • Celebrities like Cate Blanchett and Sonam Kapoor also attended the exclusive gathering.

Isha Ambani Piramal made history this week as she became the first Indian to chair the Serpentine Summer Party’s host committee. The event, held at Kensington Gardens in London on 24 June 2025, celebrated 25 years of the Serpentine Pavilion with a spotlight on South Asian artists and sustainable fashion.

Keep ReadingShow less