Pakistan’s viral sensation Arshad Khan, famously known as the “Chaiwala,” has initiated legal action at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) to invalidate a figurative trademark registered by his former UK business partner, Nadir Khan Durrani. This move intensifies an ongoing dispute concerning the ownership and commercial exploitation of Khan’s name, image, and the Café Chaiwala brand.
The application, filed by Arshad and his business associate Syed Kazim Hasan, is part of a UK court claim accusing Nadir of contract breaches, abuse of trust, and unauthorized use of the trademark. Legal representatives from Kulachi Solicitors contend that Nadir registered the trademark featuring Arshad’s likeness after their business relationship had ended, at a time when he no longer had permission to use their intellectual property.
Arshad Khan first rose to international fame in 2016 when photographer Javeria Ali captured his image while he was making tea at a roadside stall in Islamabad. His striking blue eyes and unique appearance quickly made him a social media phenomenon across Pakistan, India, and beyond.
In 2021, the Café Chaiwala brand began expanding internationally through a UK Master Franchise Agreement signed with Nadir and Yawar Akbar Durrani. However, disputes over unpaid royalties and branding issues soon arose, leading to Yawar’s resignation from the UK company. Relations between Arshad and the Durrani brothers deteriorated amid disagreements over contractual obligations and intellectual property rights.
Notably, Nadir has contested Arshad’s account, asserting that the UK operation independently developed significant aspects of the business. The franchise agreement was officially terminated on April 8, 2025.
Arshad and Hasan argue that the Master Franchise Agreement only granted limited, conditional rights to use the Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan intellectual property during the franchise period. They claim that despite the termination, Nadir applied on August 19, 2025, to register the contested figurative mark in his own name, which they say constitutes a bad-faith action under Section 3(6) of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
The applicants emphasize that the trademark directly features Arshad’s face and likeness, and that Nadir had no ongoing consent or license to register Khan’s image as a commercial trademark after the franchise ended. They warn that continued use of this image could mislead customers into believing the businesses displaying it remain authorized or endorsed by Khan.
The legal filing also alleges that the disputed logo has been used without Khan’s permission in café operations located in Ilford and Slough.
Meanwhile, brothers Asif Khaliq and Yousuf Khaliq have emerged as the true Master Franchise owners of the Arshad Khan Chaiwala brand in the UK. They currently run a popular Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan in Tooting and plan to open several more outlets across the country in the coming months.
On his part, Nadir maintains that the UK franchise invested heavily in developing the cafés and claims insufficient operational and marketing support from the franchisor. He has stated his intention to contest the legal challenge.
The tribunal is now tasked with assessing the validity of the applicants’ claims, including whether the trademark registration was made in bad faith and if the applicants have sufficiently demonstrated their rights and goodwill in the brand.
