A growing trend of Indians living abroad experimenting with unique side hustles has taken social media by storm. Among these stories, a young man from Kerala has gone viral after sharing how a simple street photography idea helped him earn money in just a few minutes in London before authorities intervened. The video, now widely circulating online, has sparked discussions about street selling regulations in the UK and the realities of pursuing side businesses overseas.
Kerala man tries instant photo business on London streets
The viral clip was posted by Vishnu Vijayadharan, a 25-year-old from Kerala who currently works in London. Alongside his regular 9-to-5 job, he decided to test a simple side hustle idea on the city's streets. In the video, Vishnu says, “Let’s see how much money we can make by selling polaroid pictures in London.” To begin, he purchased a Kodak instant camera for around 110 pounds (approximately ₹14,000). He then went to a busy street and started offering instant photographs to passersby, charging 5 pounds (around ₹640) per photo and using a handwritten cardboard sign that read, “Cute £5 polaroids.”
Customers started coming within minutes
According to the video, the response was immediate. Vishnu first served a woman customer who appeared delighted with her instant picture. Soon after, another customer approached him. “After two seconds, we got another customer,” Vijayadharan said. The quick response made him believe the business had strong earning potential in a city like London. “At that point, I genuinely started thinking we were going to make millions, but our next customer turned out to be the police,” he added.
Police soon interrupted the activity
The experiment took a sudden turn when council officers arrived at the location while he was selling photographs. Vishnu later shared that he was informed that permission from the local council is required to sell goods or services on public streets in London. “Council officers came to charge us for illegal street selling,” he revealed. He admitted he was unaware of the rule before starting the activity. “Apparently, we were supposed to take permission from the council to do this, and I had no idea about it,” he said. Despite the interruption, Vishnu felt the idea could work successfully for those who complete the proper process. “But if you have permission from the council, you can easily make 100 pounds an hour here,” he added. Before the activity was stopped, Vishnu managed to earn 10 pounds (approximately ₹1,200).
Internet divided over viral video
The clip has received mixed reactions from social media users. While some appreciated the creativity behind the idea, others emphasized the importance of following local regulations abroad. “That is why visa rules are getting tougher because of you people … just don’t treat every country like India,” one user commented. Another user reacted, “Too many rules in the UK.” The video continues to trend online as discussions around side hustles, extra income, and street business rules remain popular on social media.
Disclaimer: This report is based on a video circulating on social media. The location and authenticity of the clip have not been independently verified, and the details mentioned reflect online claims and public reactions only.
