New Delhi: Dolly Chaiwala, the newfound internet sensation whose video of serving tea to Bill Gates went viral, said that he didn't initially recognise the Microsoft co-founder until the clip garnered attention on social media. Yes, you heard it right!
In a conversation with the media following his sudden rise to fame, Sunil Patil, a humble tea seller in the Mumbai who also goes by the name 'Dolly Chaiwala' admitted that he had no idea who Bill Gates was at first. He simply perceived Gates as a foreigner to whom he should offer tea, completely unaware of his identity.
‘Mereko bilkul pata nahi tha. Mujhe laga tha ye koi foreign country ka banda hain aur inko chai pilana chaiye. Agle din jab main Nagpur wapas aya tab mujhe pata chala ki Dolly tune ye kisko chai pilaya (I was not aware about his identity at all. I thought that he was a guy from a foreign country so I should serve him tea. The next day when I came back to Nagpur then I came to know who he was),” Dolly told news agency ANI.
Asked about Gates’ reaction on sipping his tea for the first time, Dolly said, “Wow bole…Wow Dolly ki chai (Bill Gates said wow).”
“We did not speak at all, he was standing just next to me and I was busy with my work. I watch South movies and from them, I have learned the tea serving styles,” Dolly further told the news agency.
Patil further said that he had no prior knowledge that he would be traveling to Hyderabad for a shoot with the renowned American entrepreneur.
He also expressed his wish to serve tea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi some day.
During his visit to India, Gates took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video featuring Patil, while also commending India's vibrant culture of innovation. Interestingly, the video was filmed in Hyderabad.
"In India, you can find innovation everywhere you turn, even in preparation of a simple cup of tea," Bill Gates could be heard saying in the video.