Modi & Starmer Drank My Chai… and I Went Viral
From One Chaiwala to Another — A Truly Surreal Day
I'm officially know as the London chaiwala who served Modi now.
Politics aside, this is totally mental. One day I’m running my chai business, the next I’m inside Chequers — the UK Prime Minister’s country residence — serving masala chai to Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer.
Then it gets wilder: Modi posts a photo of me on his Instagram. I scramble to upload my own video. The next morning, I wake up to chaos — it’s everywhere.
Here’s how it all unfolded:
How it all began
18th July
I received an email from Downing Street inviting me to a chai pop-up at Chequers the following Thursday. At first? I thought it was spam.
21st July
Turns out it was totally real. I talked to the organiser—it was part of the UK–India trade deal celebration. Still no clue who would be attending—just that 60 guests were invited.
24th July — Morning
My team and I arrived, started brewing chai, and setting up the cart. The media team joked, “It’d be cool if we got a shot of the PM drinking your chai.” I assigned someone to film, just in case.
First, ministers and business leaders enjoyed the chai. Then, out of nowhere, Modi and Starmer walked right up to the cart. Cameras were flashing. And I said the line that’s now everywhere:
“From one chaiwala to another.”
When It All Blew Up
24th July — Afternoon
On the ride home, I was telling my mum the day’s story — figuring I’d make a post Monday. Suddenly, my phone buzzed:
“Bro, go on Modi’s Instagram — you’re on it!”
I dashed home, saw the post, quickly edited a video, and hit publish. My teammate put up the raw footage on his account.
25th July
I woke up to notifications on fire. Videos were being shared, reshared, remixed. Headlines everywhere: “From one chaiwala to another.” Overnight, masala chai—my chai—became the story.
Why This Feels So Special
It’s unimaginable—but real: Chequers, the two prime ministers, and me with a chai cart. Just let that sink in.
Chai took center stage: Amid politics, it was masala chai that sparked a moment that resonated globally.
The human connection: That simple line—“From one chaiwala to another”—brought warmth amid all the noise.
What I've Learned
I once joked about wanting to disappear from the internet. That’s not happening now. 😂
The power of authenticity: A straightforward story, heartfelt line—and suddenly, the world is watching.
There’s comfort in connection. Maybe it’s the shared tea, maybe the unexpected, but people felt something real.
