Little did Arshad Khan know, when he rose for fajr prayers at about 4.30am on a hot September morning two years ago, that this would be the day that changed his life.
After fajr, the 17-year-old had his breakfast and headed to work at his local Itwar (Sunday) market tea stall on the outskirts of Islamabad. Khan had been working at the market for four years – being one of 17 siblings, little attention was paid to his education and, as a result, he had only ever attended a few days of school.
At 8pm, as a hard day's shift of making and ladling tea was coming to an end, the sound of a camera clicking made him look up. The second his blue-eyed gaze met that camera, his fate changed. Photographer Jiah Ali, who caught the shot, posted it on Instagram a month later with the caption "Hot tea". The picture went viral and, within days, people from around the world, including his home country, Pakistan, were discussing the chai wala's astonishing good looks.
"I didn't know that my looks were out of the ordinary. I think all Pashtun people are good-looking, so I didn't think of myself as being special. My older brother says he is much more handsome than me," Khan says.
At first he thought he was in trouble
Since he was illiterate and did not own a mobile phone at the time, he was unaware of the social-media maelstrom his image was causing. When he saw some boys in his neighbourhood with prints of his picture, he questioned them and, puzzled by their answers, continued on his way. When he got to work soon after, Pakistan's paparazzi was waiting for him.
He was completely shocked and, believing that the attention was negative, he left his post and made himself scarce for a few days, all the while wracking his brains, wondering what he could have done that was so bad. "I thought maybe that somebody from my group of friends had done something," Khan says. "I was kind of the leader of our group, so I thought maybe someone had vandalised a car or something, and I was getting the blame." The photographer who took the picture, sought him out and explained what was happening. "Jiah came and found me. I remembered her taking my picture and she explained what had happened."
Reassured that he was not in any trouble, Khan headed back to the stall. What was to follow played out almost like a movie: modelling contracts, family discord, questions over his nationality and, finally, peace and success.
Issue with his conservative family
Online retailer Fitin.pk was quick to take on the unassuming star and signed him to model a range of its clothes.
The rest of Pakistan, too, was eager to get a piece of the chai wala, whose story and looks had captured the nation's imagination. Khan took on more modelling assignments, TV chat-show appearances and starred in a number of music videos. His "big break" came when he was invited to star in popular singer Muskan Jay's music video for her song Beparwai. To date, the video has more than 3.3 million views on YouTube.
Things were going smoothly until photos taken during filming were leaked. Khan’s conservative family saw the snaps, some of which showed him with his arms wrapped around the singer, and called for a meeting. “They were really upset,” Khan says. “They told me not to do such a thing again, and my mother used the word ‘vulgar’.”
Some media outlets reported that Khan’s family had banned him from any type of modelling. His current manager, Kazim Hasan, explains that this wasn’t exactly the case: “It’s true, Arshad’s family was not happy with the shoot. Arshad took a break, and after talks with his family, it was agreed that he would not collaborate on any more shoots where he was standing that close to a member of the opposite sex.”
In January last year, the viral sensation took a six-month sabbatical from the spotlight, until he felt less overwhelmed and ready to continue on his new-found path.
This is when he approached Hasan. Khan thinks that previous managers did not always act in his best interests or pay him properly. "I trust Kazim," Khan says. "He is like a father to me, and he has my best interests at heart. Even if he beat me in front of 100 people, I would still love him."
Khan entrusted Hasan with handling all of his PR and marketing, and things took off for him again. Hasan marked Khan's comeback with an 18th birthday party. Soon after, he became the face of an advertising campaign for the popular shopping destination Pehchan Mall, previous ads for which have featured the lookalike of Bollywood actor Salman Khan.
Questions over the chai wala's nationality
But Khan was once again at the receiving end of negative attention, when media outlet Geo News claimed that he was not actually Pakistani, but Afghani, hailing from Kandahar. Khan refutes this. “My great-grandfather was Afghani, but he moved to Pakistan before India and Pakistan’s partition. My mother is a native of Karachi, where all of her seven brothers still live,” he says.
Hasan confirms that the reports about Khan’s background were duly investigated by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority, but insists he got the all-clear. “Everything was looked into with a successful conclusion. Khan holds a valid Pakistani passport.” However, the mix-up cost Khan a spot at the prestigious Milan Fashion Week, where he was invited to represent Carrera sunglasses.
What's next for Arshad Khan?
He has since filmed a pilot for a TV show, Chaiwala & Friends, which also stars Ali Fateh, Malik Aqeel and TV host and actor Mariam Salman. The show will see Khan and the team attending film premieres, interviewing actors and politicians, and visiting new restaurants and cafes.
Will we see the chai wala in the UAE soon?
"Arshad has got a down-to-earth personality, which is his strength. He is not in a hurry, but would love the opportunity to work abroad. He has heard a lot about Dubai and we are keen to explore opportunities there," Hasan says.
"Right now, he is receiving tutoring at Xanthum's PR offices in the Blue Area of Islamabad. He is learning computers. Now he is good at WhatsApp and Facebook. He's also learning English," he reveals
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Read more:
From chai wala to fashion wala for Pakistan’s blue-eyed boy
A Pakistani chai wala's gaze creates a window into the nation's soul
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THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Chinese Grand Prix schedule (in UAE time)
Friday: First practice - 6am; Second practice - 10am
Saturday: Final practice - 7am; Qualifying - 10am
Sunday: Chinese Grand Prix - 10.10am
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MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Mobile phone packages comparison
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Scores
Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5