Reality Star Mr Faisu Details Career Turmoil Following TikTok Ban in India
The popular reality television program 'The 50' continues to captivate audiences with its engaging episodes, surprising revelations, and entertaining content. In a recent installment, contestant Mr Faisu opened up about a particularly difficult period in his professional life, directly linked to the banning of TikTok in India.
From Viral Sensation to Sudden Setback
During a candid discussion, Faisu explained how his career trajectory was dramatically altered. "TikTok got banned, and when that happened, we lost it all," he revealed. He recounted his earlier success, stating, "I was number one in India. I was the third most-followed person in the world. My videos had 1 billion likes; no one had that in India."
The conversation was prompted by fellow contestants, including Shiny Doshi, Ridhima Pandit, Monalisa, and Rajat Dalal, who questioned the source of Faisu's immense popularity. Doshi recalled witnessing a video where Faisu exited a car to "lakhs of cheering fans" and wondered about his claim to fame.
Humble Beginnings and Unprecedented Growth
Faisu took the opportunity to walk down memory lane, detailing his humble origins. "We started making videos on Dubsmash," he said. "People used to make 15-second videos there, but we started making one-minute-long content. We would compile those and put them on Facebook."
He emphasized that they never anticipated the massive scale these platforms would achieve. "We never knew these platforms would become so big," Faisu admitted. He highlighted a significant milestone: "We posted a music video on YouTube and got 45 million views on it in six months."
Their strategy was straightforward yet effective. "Our thought process was very simple," Faisu explained. "We made sure that every third video that the audience saw should be ours. I have personally made 7,500 videos."
The Ban and Strategic Pivot
The turning point came when TikTok was banned in India. Faisu noted that he had already faced a personal ban on the platform a year prior. "The moment my account got banned, we made my 20–22 million fans follow me on Instagram," he continued, describing the swift transition to maintain his audience.
Professional Grooming and Agency Support
Faisu also credited the agency that supported him during this challenging phase. "The company that we had signed up with supported us a lot," he said. "The CEO of that agency saw potential in us, and they invested in us for a year or two."
This investment included comprehensive grooming classes. "We had to take up many classes on grooming – how to eat, how to sit, how to be a gentleman," Faisu shared. "They groomed us so much, and we could understand that it was making us better human beings. So we continued following that."
Adnan Shaikh, a close friend of Faisu, also shared his perspective on the situation, adding another layer to the discussion about navigating career shifts in the dynamic world of social media.
