'I am alive': MBA Chaiwala Prafull Billore lashes out after fake death rumours spread online

Entrepreneur Prafull Billore, better known as MBA Chaiwala, has reacted sharply after false reports claiming he had died began circulating on social media.Clearly upset by the rumours, Billore shared a screenshot of a Google search on Instagram showing the phrase "Prafull Billore death".

Along with it, he posted a blunt message asking people to stop spreading misinformation."That's ridiculous, offensive and hurtful. Please stop spreading fake news. I am alive. Bhos**walo," he wrote.The screenshot showed a search result from a website carrying a report about rumours of his death. While the article itself mentioned there was no official confirmation, the claim had already spread widely enough to leave many people confused.Similar rumours had earlier surfaced on X, where fake posts claimed that Billore had passed away. Some users even shared condolence messages, believing the news was genuine.His Instagram post quickly drew reactions from followers, many of whom condemned the people responsible for spreading the rumour.

"Be strong, bhai, this is the new world. Extreme hate is normal hate," one user commented."It's not a joke," another wrote.

Billore replied, "True bhai."Others suggested the rumours were fuelled by jealousy, while several called the incident disturbing and unnecessary.Billore's rise has been anything but ordinary. A native of Madhya Pradesh, he left his MBA programme after realising it wasn't where his heart was. Instead, he started selling tea with just ₹8,000 in hand. What began as a small roadside tea stall eventually grew into the MBA Chaiwala brand, with outlets across the country.Today, apart from running his business, he has built a massive following online, where he regularly shares motivational thoughts and snippets from his entrepreneurial journey.Ironically, just before addressing the death rumours, Billore had posted about the Japanese concept of Oubaitori, a philosophy that encourages people to stop comparing themselves with others."Stop comparing yourself to others," he wrote, explaining that apricot, peach, plum and cherry trees all bloom at different times. "Your path is uniquely yours. Your timing is uniquely yours. Someone else's success is not your failure."The timing of that post and the rumours that followed couldn't have been more different. But Billore's message after the speculation was straightforward: he's alive, and he wants the fake news to stop.