A small vada pav cart standing beside a large white bungalow might look like an ordinary roadside food stall outside a wealthy home.
In Surat, however, the story is different.
The cart belongs to the owner of the bungalow beside it.
The man behind both is Anilbhai, a Surat-based vada pav seller who began his business in 1997. Back then, he sold each vada pav for Rs. 2.50. Nearly three decades later, he continues to run the cart himself.
His story recently attracted attention after he spoke to food vlogger Harry Uppal. But the journey behind that viral image began much earlier, with his family selling vegetables, a 17-month stint as an ONGC peon and a recipe his mother prepared at home.
Before Vada Pav, His Family Sold Vegetables
Anilbhai’s early years were centred around finding different ways to support his family.
According to his account, the family worked around Ambika Niketan Temple in Surat. They looked after devotees’ footwear and helped with vehicle parking.
His mother, brother, sister and he also sold vegetables.
Anilbhai later got a job at ONGC as a peon. He worked there for 17 months before leaving the job.
Then came the decision that changed the direction of his working life.
In 1997, he started selling vada pav.
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How Did The Business Start?
Anilbhai did not start with a large shop or an established food business.
The recipe came from home.
His mother already knew how to prepare vada pav. Anilbhai learned by watching her make the vadas and prepare the masala.
The family began selling the snack in Surat, following the style of the popular Mumbai street food.
The first vada pav cost Rs. 2.50.
The early years were not straightforward. Anilbhai has spoken about difficulties faced while operating a roadside cart, including issues with municipal authorities. He eventually moved the cart from the roadside to another nearby location and continued the business.
The price has changed over the years. The Times of India reported in September 2026 that the vada pav now sells for Rs. 25.
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His Mother Remains At The Heart Of The Story
Ask Anilbhai what makes his vada pav special and his answer goes back to his mother.
He credits her with making the masala used in the vada pav.
“My mother makes the masala. There’s magic in her hands,” he said during his interaction with Harry Uppal, according to LiveMint.
For Anilbhai, the business was never just about selling a snack.
His mother was involved from the beginning, preparing the food that he then sold.
That family connection has remained part of the business even after it grew.
Then Came The Bungalow
The part of Anilbhai’s story that has attracted the most attention is the white bungalow beside his cart.
According to the reports, the property had previously belonged to a man named Hitesh Parekh. Anilbhai had known the property from an earlier period when he went there to sell vegetables.
Eventually, his family bought the bungalow.
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“Mataji” Gets The Credit
Anilbhai does not describe the bungalow as something he achieved alone.
When asked about the property, he credited “Mataji” and her blessings.
He said he did not build the bungalow himself and described it as a dream of his mother and brother.
“I didn’t build that bungalow, Mataji did,” he said, according to The Times of India report.
He also said that owning a bungalow was never something he had imagined for himself.
For him, the property represents a family dream that eventually became reality.
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Why He Still Runs The Cart
The bungalow has not meant the end of the cart.
Anilbhai still sells vada pav there.
According to reports, he starts his day around 6 am and continues to take out the cart himself.
Customers can also sit and eat on the bungalow premises.
So the cart and the house now exist side by side.
One represents the business he started nearly 30 years ago. The other represents what his family eventually acquired.
What Anilbhai Says About His Journey
Anilbhai’s own explanation of his journey does not focus only on money.
He talks about work, family and faith.
Speaking about people who feel that having little money limits their possibilities, he said that someone who starts with very little can still move forward by working hard.
His story also shows how closely his work remains connected to his family.
His mother’s recipe became the foundation of the vada pav business. His brother shared the dream of owning a bungalow. And Anilbhai continues to credit Mataji for the blessings he believes helped his family reach that point.
There is also something significant about what has not changed.
After nearly three decades, Anilbhai still returns to the same kind of work that started his journey.
The vada pav now costs Rs. 25 instead of Rs. 2.50.
The cart still stands beside the bungalow.
And Anilbhai is still behind it.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Anilbhai?
A Surat-based vada pav seller who started the business in 1997 after leaving an ONGC job.
How much did his vada pav cost initially?
Rs. 2.50 in 1997. It is now priced at Rs. 25, according to the Times of India report.
What was his background?
His family had worked around Ambikani Ketanpe Temple, including looking after footwear, parking vehicles and selling vegetables.
Who taught him the recipe?
His mother, who continues to prepare the masala used in the vada pav.
How did he get the bungalow?
Anilbhai said the property was earlier owned by Hitesh Parek and that his family later bought it. The purchase price has not been reported in the sources checked.
What does he say about his mother?
He credits her masala, work and blessings, and says the bungalow was his mother’s and brother’s dream.
Does he still sell vada pav?
Yes. He says he still takes out the cart himself, starting around 6 am.
