In the sixteenth episode of the podcast titled 'From Tea Seller to Successful Businessman,' the host engaged in a conversation with the young entrepreneur. Arshad Khan recounted his life journey, the sudden surge to fame, the inundation of media attention, and the tempting job offers from the entertainment industry that ensued after his internet-breaking moment.
Throughout the 42-minute episode, Arshad vividly narrated the remarkable story of how he became an overnight sensation and achieved global recognition, all stemming from one fortuitous day when a photographer captured him while preparing tea at a roadside tea stall. He also confided in the host about his bewildering emotions and disbelief as the media swarmed him for interviews in the wake of his image going viral on social media.
After briefly exploring the entertainment industry and gaining experience as a model and performer, Arshad made a significant decision: he realized that a career in media and entertainment was not his true calling. Instead, he tapped into his inner entrepreneur and leveraged his fame to establish a café. Arshad's primary motivation for launching his café in Islamabad was to create employment opportunities and empower individuals to support their households.
"I could have settled for just one café," Arshad explained, "but I embarked on building an entire brand because my goal was to extend the benefits of my cafes to numerous households, not just mine and my own. My motivation wasn't purely financial; it was about generating a source of income and livelihood for 25–30 people. Given the substantial job scarcity in Pakistan, I aimed to contribute in any way I could," he added.
In June 2023, Café Chaiwala, under Arshad Khan's leadership, expanded internationally by inaugurating its first branch outside of Pakistan, located on East London's Ilford Lane. Locally, Café Chaiwala has established a presence in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and Swat.
