Arshad Khan (Chaiwala)

Arshad Khan, popularly known as the Arshad Khan Chaiwala, is a Pakistani tea seller who shot to fame in 2016 when a photograph of him working at his tea stall went viral. His striking looks and piercing blue eyes captivated the internet, leading to a modeling career and the launch of his own café brand in Islamabad. Khan's entrepreneurial journey took a significant leap in 2023 when he expanded his café brand internationally, opening a branch in East London. With plans to open more outlets across the UK and beyond.

Arshad Khan
Born
Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Other namesChaiwala
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Model
Years active2016-present
Known forChaiwala Café

Early life

Arshad Khan, popularly recognized as Chaiwala (tea seller), gained widespread attention when a candid photograph of him went viral on the internet in 2016.[1] As a young and attractive blue-eyed boy, he worked as a humble tea seller at a roadside stall (Dhabba) in Islamabad. Given his circumstances, a prosperous and luxurious life seemed distant. At the time the photograph was taken in October 2016, Arshad Khan was just 16 years old. Photographer Javeria Ali captured the casual image while he was serving tea to a customer and shared it on her Instagram with the caption: "Hot Tea".[2][3]

Rise to fame

Arshad Khan's remarkable appearance, characterized by his captivating blue eyes and a compelling, serious demeanor, propelled him to instant fame. The revelation of his newfound celebrity status occurred when a surge of children, men, and women flocked to the Dhabba where he worked, eager to take pictures with him. Soon, his image was ubiquitous on social media, magazine covers, and television broadcasts began featuring his story. Following his rapid rise to stardom, Arshad Khan, hailing from a conservative Pashtun family in Mardan, became widely known as the "Chaiwala".[2]

Career

Modelling career

Following the viral success of his photograph, Arshad Khan transitioned into a career as a model, capitalizing on his newfound fame.[1] He ventured into modeling and performance, showcasing his talents in the industry.[3] Notably, he secured a contract with Fitin.pk, an online shopping site headquartered in Islamabad. They featured him as a model for their menswear, utilizing his images to showcase their clothing line.[1]

Entrepreneurship

Motivated to leverage his fame for a meaningful impact, Arshad Khan took the opportunity to open a café.[3] He established his own Rooftop Café brand in Islamabad.[4] His primary drive behind this venture was to generate employment opportunities for individuals, enabling them to sustain their households. Arshad emphasized that while one café would have sufficed for him, he chose to create an entire brand to ensure that multiple households could benefit from the cafes, extending the positive impact beyond his own family.[3]

International Expansion

In June 2023, Arshad Khan's Café Chaiwala achieved an international milestone by inaugurating its inaugural branch outside of Pakistan, situated on East London's Ilford Lane. The Chaiwala brand made its debut in London through an exclusive venture led by three investor brothers, Bahadar Durrani, Nadir Durrani, and Akbar Durrani. Their vision includes ambitious plans to expand and franchise numerous outlets across a global scale, spanning the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.[2][5][6]

References
  1. "Pakistani 'chai wala' turns model after finding fame". BBC News. October 19, 2016.
  2. "Pakistan's international sensation Chaiwala Arshad Khan opens outlet in London". www.thenews.com.pk.
  3. "'Chaiwala' wants multiple households to benefit from his cafes". The Express Tribune. September 23, 2023.
  4. Desk, Web (May 20, 2021). "Arshad Khan Chaiwala set to open chain of cafes in London". ARY NEWS.
  5. "From Islamabad dhabba to London: Chaiwala Arshad Khan's unstoppable journey". www.geo.tv.
  6. "From teaboy to international sensation: Arshad Khan hopes to brew success in London with Café Chaiwala". Arab News PK. May 23, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.