Kanta Prasad runs a Dhaba, a roadside restaurant, called “Baba Ka Dhaba,” which became popular after YouTuber Gaurav Wasan uploaded a video on ‘Baba Ka Dhaba’ on social media; the video went viral overnight.
Wiki/Biography & Family
Kanta Prasad was born in 1940 (age 81 years; in 2021) in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. At the age of five, he married three-year-old Badami Devi, and the couple had three children, two sons named Karan and Azad, and a daughter named Saroj.
Kanta Prasad with his wife
Kanta Prasad’s son Karan
Daughter of Kanta Prasad
Reportedly, soon after the wedding, the couple separated, and both started living at their parents’ house. After 18 years of their marriage, they reunited.
The beginning of Baba Ka Dhaba
After giving birth to their daughter, Saroj, they left Uttar Pradesh for Delhi in 1961, where Kanta Prasad began working as a fruit seller, and his wife, Badami, helped him in this. Kanta Prasad often praised his wife, and once, he said,
He’s a better salesman than I am!”
Soon the family of five settled in Delhi, where they started selling fruits and vegetables to earn their living. In an interview, while talking about her early days in Delhi, Kanta said,
We have our equal share of good and bad days. But we will continue the times we can afford chai and biscuits from the nearby tapri. My favorite day is Friday… because on Friday, Badami Ji makes aloo baingan!”
Later, to supplement the family’s income, Kanta started a tea stall in Delhi, but failed, and then his wife suggested that they start a Dhaba. Kanta said –
Badami Ji trusts me and my cooking. I remember asking him, ‘Nahi chala toh?’ He smiled and said, ‘Koi baat nahi, kuch aur karengey!’ I wouldn’t have had the courage to do anything without him. He may look small, but he has a strong will!”
In 1988, started a Dhaba, and he named it “Baba Ka Dhaba.” After working diligently together, Kanta and Badami established their Dhaba as a profitable one; however, in 2020, after the nationwide shutdown in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other businesses, Baba Ka Dhaba also suffered huge losses
Kanta Prasad’s wife cuts vegetables
Viral Videos
In October 2020, YouTuber Gaurav Wasan uploaded a video on Baba Ka Dhaba on social media that went viral. In the video, Kanta Prasad is seen describing the turmoil his family has experienced since the nationwide curfew. Within days of the video going viral on social media, long queues of people started appearing at his Dhaba, where people would take selfies with Kanta Prasad.
While reacting to the Dhaba’s overnight popularity, Kanta Prasad’s wife Badami said,
পালা স্র্তান নান্তে নাটি তি… দান্তা নানি নোটি তো কায়া বে নান নিক্তি তি जो खाना बच जाता था, उसे गर ले जाते था, वही थाना खाते था. কাব্বাব্বে অস্য হা কা কে রাশন নান ন্টাতা তা তো বুকিক র্নন ক্ত্ত্তা তা. The child doesn’t give anything from their earnings. One son’s work is off and he doesn’t give anything to his second son. بيتي كي شادي هو غاي هي بكن وو حمري ساحت هي هي رحتي هي एक नातिन है, 12 साल की… उसे पुधाते भी हैन. आज सुबाण से भुसा सारे लोग अगे है है, टो खुषि हो रही है, खाना भी शब शाम हो गाया.’
A New Restaurant
After gaining massive popularity due to the viral video, various politicians and Bollywood celebrities came forward to help Kanta Prasad and his family. Reportedly, more than INR 40 lakh was received as charity for Baba Ka Dhaba. Then, within two months, Kanta Prasad opened a new restaurant in Malviya Nagar; this new restaurant is almost within walking distance from the old Dhaba.
Kanta Prasad at his new restaurant
New Restaurant Lockdowns and Closures
The country’s COVID-19 shutdown led to the closure of a new restaurant opened by Kanta Prasad. According to Kanta, he has employed two cooks and a helper at the new restaurant, but the income is not enough to run the restaurant and it has closed. Then he sold the restaurant property for which he got only INR 30-40 thousand.
Controversy
After the video went viral, Kanta Prasad accused YouTuber Gaurav Wasan of cheating with money received as charity for Baba Ka Dhaba, and he also filed an FIR against the YouTuber.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WLOCOMCesg
Later, Kanta’s daughter Saroj accused her father of being an alcoholic and said that he spends most of the money on liquor. In June 2021, Kanta Prasad apologized to Gaurav Wasan and returned to his old Dhaba.
After Kanta Prasad’s apology, Gaurav Wasan shared a post on Instagram where he wrote,
All’s well that ends well ? Galti karne wale se bada Galti maaf karne wala hota he ( Mere Maa Baap ne hamesha yehi seekh di hai) नानक नाम चडदी काला, तेरे भाने सरवत दा भला” 
Suicide Attempt
According to the Delhi Police, on June 17, 2021, at around 11.15 pm, they received information from Safdarjung Hospital that Kanta Prasad, aged 81, had been admitted to the hospital. Kanta Prasad had consumed alcohol and sleeping pills and the hospital said in its report that he was unconscious. His son Karan’s statement said his father had taken alcohol and sleeping pills. According to his son Azad, Kanta had tried to commit suicide six years earlier.
Net worth
Kanta Prasad has a net worth of over INR 20 Lakh.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
