By Toi World Desk

Copyright indiatimes

Just a few months back, Guru Randhawa released his hit track Tussi jitthe bhi jaande o, sirra karane o (meaning “wherever you go, you completely slay”) — and little did he know, some people would live by this mantra in ways even he might not have imagined. Enter Prafull Billore, popularly known as MBA Chai Wala. The tea entrepreneur recently visited Google’s headquarters in the US, sharing a cheerful photo from the Googleplex — a moment he might have truly “slayed.” Little did he know, social media would have a field day linking this visit to the sudden announcement of a $100,000 H-1B visa fee by President Donald Trump. Within hours, memes flooded the internet, crowning Billore the ultimate “panauti” with a 200% strike rate.MBA Chai Wala prafull Billore’s Google trip and viral “panauti” meme On September 8, 2025, Billore shared a picture at Google’s Mountain View headquarters, captioned, “Hello from Google’s headquarters, Googleplex, Mountain View, California, United States.” Just weeks later, Trump announced a $100,000 one-time fee for new H-1B visa applications. Social media users quickly linked the two events, joking that Billore’s presence had somehow caused the sudden fee hike. The nickname “panauti,” meaning “jinx,” resurfaced as fans claimed he maintained a “100% strike rate” in triggering chaotic events, continuing the playful narrative around Billore’s supposedly mystical ability to affect outcomes.Internet reaction to the H-1B fee hikeWhen the H-1B visa fee hike was announced, netizens couldn’t resist connecting Billore’s Google visit to the sudden policy change. Tweets, memes, and humorous posts flooded the internet:“The real reason behind Trump’s H1B visa restrictions… #panauti.”“Bro stepped into the USA and now no one can step in.”“Bhai ka track record ek dum bana hua hai…H1B visa ki fees badh hi gayi.”“Please visit Pakistan and see what happens there!”While all in jest, these reactions reinforced Billore’s playful image as someone who “causes” or “predicts” chaotic outcomes, extending his earlier cricket-related reputation to tech and policy spheres.The origins of Billore’s “panauti” reputation The term “panauti” first gained traction in mid-2024 during the ICC T20 World Cup. Billore had shared a selfie with Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, who shortly afterward scored only six runs in a match against Bangladesh. The internet quickly ran with the idea that Billore’s selfie brought bad luck, humorously blaming him for the underperformance. Fans dubbed him a “jinx” and began tracking other unexpected cricket outcomes, associating them with Billore’s presence or actions.Virat Kohli, cricket, and the meme goes viral The “panauti” meme extended to other Indian cricket stars, including Virat Kohli and top players, whenever Team India experienced surprising losses or dips in form. Fans humorously tagged Billore in social media posts, treating him as both the source of bad luck and a playful scapegoat for unforeseen cricket events. Billore embraced the joke, posting “reverse-jinx” memes in which he superimposed himself with players from opposing teams like South Africa and England, claiming to neutralize bad luck for India. During India’s semi-final victory over England, these memes went viral, portraying him as a good luck charm—a stark contrast to the original “panauti” label. Additionally, some netizens humorously referenced Billore’s media interactions, including his November 2021 interview with influencer Arvind Arora, who later faced Shark Tank backlash in March 2023, and his August 2022 interview with Manish Kashyap, who was arrested in March 2023 for fake news. In the comment sections, playful netizens even suggested that Billore should visit Pakistan to test his “panauti” effect internationally, adding to the hilarity and reach of the meme. Fans and commentators even called him a “freedom fighter” against bad luck in cricket, further embedding him in popular culture as a playful figure associated with both fortune and mischief.Who is Prafull Billore? Prafull Billore, better known as MBA Chai Wala, began his entrepreneurial journey in 2017 with a tea stall in Madhya Pradesh, starting with just Rs. 8,000. The stall quickly became a national sensation, expanding into a chain and earning widespread social media attention. Known for his personable approach, Billore has leveraged humor, memes, and branding to grow both his business and public persona.Despite occasional trolling, Billore has embraced his “panauti” label, running a “Reverse Panauti” campaign online that turns the meme into marketing, engagement, and lighthearted entertainment. From cricket matches to tech news, Billore’s playful jinx persona continues to capture the imagination of social media users across India and beyond.The internet reaction linking Prafull Billore to the H-1B visa fee hike is entirely humorous and meme-driven, building on his preexisting “panauti” reputation from cricket. While his Google visit coinciding with Trump’s announcement sparked global jokes, it is a playful exaggeration rather than a factual cause. Nevertheless, Billore has fully embraced this cultural moment, turning coincidence into viral content, and cementing his status as a humorous and influential figure in Indian meme culture.