Baba Ka Dhaba Full Story, rise & fall of Kanta Prasad, What is he doing now?

Baba Ka Dhaba came to light when Gaurav Wasan, a food vlogger, shot a video of Kanta Prasad’s hard work in his dhaba selling food for few hundred rupees a day. The video went viral on social media and people all over started to donate money in order to help old Kanta Prasad.

Kanta Prasad’s heartbreaking video fighting for survival at his food stall, named Baba Ka Dhaba, in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, not only got people rushing to his dhaba increasing sales overnight but also shot him to celebrity.

Kanta Prasad Biography

In 1931, Kanta Prasad was born in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Kanta Prasad married Badami Devi & he has three children, Karan, Azad, and Saroj. The couple reportedly divorced shortly after the wedding and they reconnected later.

After giving birth to their daughter, Saroj, in 1961, they moved to Delhi, and Kanta Prasad began selling fruits with the support of his wife, Badami. “She did a better job selling than I did!” According to Kanta Prasad.

Kanta Prasad, now 80 years old, and his elderly wife, feeble and debilitated by old age, have run the little food shop name “Baba Ka Dhaba” outside Hanuman Temple in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar since 1988. Before COVID-19 struck, the couple’s successful eatery lost daily income as consumers began to shun roadside cuisine.

Baba Ka Dhaba Location

Old Market, Block B, Shivalik Colony, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110017

Baba Ka Dhaba New Restaurant

Kanta Prasad, with his came-out-from-no-where managers opened a new restaurant Malviya Nagar area after his small eatery got nationwide limelight and popularity. The new restaurant in South Delhi also carry the same name of the eatery.

However, even after trying the modern approach of brand new restaurant, people turned away as the entire controversy gradually started coming out where the Baba got completely against Wasan, the influencer who helped him getting all the fame and money.

Reportedly, the restaurant had to be closed as the running cost was more than the revenue.

Baba Ka Dhaba Story

A video went viral showing Kanta Prasad breaking down since they couldn’t even sell a plate of chappatis and matar paneer. Gaurav Wasan, an influencer, developed and posted a video on his social media account highlighting their suffering.

His weak wife laid out the rotis, and he cooked them over the stove fire, as shown in the video. The cameraman said the utensils were pristine and clean, and the mixed daal looked great. “But none are willing to consume them,” moaned Prasad, who complained that they couldn’t even sell 500 gm of “daal or sabzi” during the day. Kanta Prasad even sobbed in front of the camera, lamenting their loss of income.

An 80-year-old couple sells the greatest master paneer. Inhe Hamari zarurat he, Wasan wrote the caption for the Instagram video.

The video went viral the next day as soon as it was shared, and it did so in a big way. On Thursday, some individuals, including online users, lawmakers, and even Bollywood stars, encouraged people to assist the couple in reopening their business. It was the first time things looked positive for the elderly couple since unlocking began; they posted on social media.

Many people rallied around him, and the dhaba grew in popularity. Following the widespread success of their film, the owners began receiving $10,000 each day. “Our condition had deteriorated since the lockdown. We used to open at 6-7 a.m. and close at 9.30 a.m., but there were no customers. I opened the business at 6 a.m. this morning, and the food was gone by 9 a.m. People have shown us a lot of affection. Our lifestyles have altered dramatically in the last several years. Kanta Prasad expressed his thoughts.

Baba Ka Dhaba Original Viral Video by Swad Official (Gaurav Wasan)

Baba Ka Dhaba Case & Controversy

Kanta Prasad has filed a police report against Gaurav Wasan, the YouTuber who captured the footage of the elderly couple selling food in Delhi. Wasan allegedly misappropriated monies gathered to support his wife and him, according to the owner. According to him, Gaurav Wasan is also accused of cheating, mischief, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy.

According to Prasad, “Most people come here to shoot pictures. Therefore I don’t get many clients anymore… I used to make around Rs 10,000 every day, but now I only make between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per day.”

Gaurav Wasan, according to him, consciously and carefully revealed just his and his family/friends’ bank accounts details and mobile numbers with the donors and collected vast amounts of donation through various modes of payment, I.E., without disclosing any information to the complainant’s bank account. The police have also verified that a report has been filed.

Baba Ka Dhaba New Restaurant

Kanta Prasad, the owner of the actual Baba Ka Dhaba in the national capital, opened a restaurant in Malviya Nagar. The 80-year-old told the news agency ANI, “We’re ecstatic because God has rewarded us. I’d want to express my gratitude for their assistance and invite them to dine at my restaurant. We’ll be serving Indian and Chinese food here.”

Following the viral video’s success, many Bollywood politicians and celebrities have stepped out to support Kanta Prasad and his family. According to reports, approximately 40 lakh INR had been raised as a donation for Baba. Less than two months later, Kanta Prasad launched a new restaurant in Malviya Nagar; this new restaurant was virtually within walking distance of its former Dhaba.

Kanta Prasad’s Controversy Continued

While Kanta Prasad accused YouTuber Gaurav Wasan of stealing the money raised as charity for Baba after the video went popular, and also filed an FIR against him, Kanta’s daughter Saroj, accused her father of being an alcoholic, claiming he spent a lot of money on booze. Kanta Prasad apologized to Gaurav Wasan and returned to his previous Dhaba in June 2021.

Gaurav Wasan posted on Instagram after Kanta Prasad’s apology, “All’s well that ends well,’ Galti Karne wali se bara Galti Maf Karne wala hota he (Meri ma bap ne hamesha yehi sheek di hai).”

Kanta Prasad Suicide Attempt

Delhi police received information from Safdarjung Hospital on June 17, 2021, at about 11:15 p.m., that Kanta Prasad, 81, had been admitted to the hospital. Kanta Prasad had drunk alcohol and sleeping pills, and the hospital noted that he was unconscious in his report. According to a news release from her son Karan, his father had consumed booze and sleeping pills. Kanta had attempted suicide six years prior, according to his son Azad.

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Would you be interested to hear another such zero to hero story? Read Story of Kacha Badam