Arshad Khan, a tea vendor working on the streets of Islamabad, had his life unexpectedly transformed in 2016. While going about his daily work routine, he was captured by a stranger’s camera at precisely the right moment, which led to him becoming a viral sensation. We’re delighted to share his story with our beloved readers.
It’s often difficult to know where attractive individuals can be found.
Photographer Jiah Ali took a photograph of Khan and shared it on social media, where it rapidly gained traction and became viral, with thousands of individuals sharing and commenting on the picture. His stunning blue eyes and handsome appearance captivated people, and he soon began receiving offers for photoshoots, TV appearances, and even modeling contracts.
Arshad Khan, also known as the “Chaiwala,” had no inkling that he would become an overnight sensation as a male model when Pakistani photographer Jiah Ali chose him. Within just two days, 50 women had contacted him at his tea shop in the city’s Itwar Bazaar.
In a matter of hours, he went from being an unknown tea seller to a media sensation.
The sudden fame was a shock to Khan, who had never dreamed of becoming a famous model, coming from a modest background. But he embraced the opportunity and rapidly became one of Pakistan’s most in-demand models.
The images of Arshad caught the public’s attention, and many people were curious about this tea seller from Islamabad. This was the pivotal moment that changed Arshad’s life, propelling him into the spotlight and presenting him with fresh opportunities.
Following the pictures’ popularity, Arshad Khan quickly rose to fame and was signed up by Fitin.pk, an Islamabad-based online shopping site, for a modeling campaign, in which he modeled menswear for the site. The company employed Arshad’s pictures in their advertising with a message that read, “Chai wala is not more chai wala now he is fashion wala!”
In a TV interview, Mr. Khan revealed that he had recently joined the tea stall, and his family had lived in Islamabad for the previous 25 years. He also admitted that he had no knowledge of social media sites such as Instagram and Twitter.
Jiah Ali, the photographer who shared the fateful photo, was honest in saying,
“I was very surprised when it got famous — to me, it was a normal casual post!”
Ms. Ali, a media graduate who works as an event and wedding photographer in Islamabad, expressed her joy for Mr. Khan:
“I’m delighted for him; he deserves this. He’s a genuinely good person. I just hope he can cope with the fame and not be taken advantage of by opportunistic individuals.”
He serves as an inspiration for anyone who needs it.
Since then, Khan has continued to model and has become a public figure, inspiring others with his rags-to-riches tale and positive demeanor. He continually reminds individuals that hard work and determination can achieve anything.