Before Instagram Reels, before creator houses became a business model, and before influencer marketing became a billion-dollar industry, there was TikTok. Between 2018 and 2020, TikTok transformed ordinary teenagers into household names. Friendship edits, dance videos, transitions, lip-sync content, and fan-favourite ships created India’s first generation of digital superstars. Millions followed their every move, fan pages flourished, and creator groups became cultural phenomena. Then came June 2020. TikTok was banned in India, bringing an abrupt end to the platform that had built these careers. While some creators successfully reinvented themselves across Instagram, YouTube, television, and music, others struggled to recreate the magic of the TikTok years. Here’s a look back at the creator collectives and breakout stars who defined an era.
Team 07 — The Creator Gang That Became a Movement
The friendship group that defined Indian TikTok
If there was one creator collective synonymous with TikTok’s golden age, it was Team 07.
Made up of Faisal Shaikh, Adnaan Shaikh, Hasnain Khan, Faiz Baloch, and Shadan Farooqui, the Mumbai-based group built an enormous following through friendship content, fashion edits, slow-motion videos, and aspirational lifestyle content.
At their peak, their combined following crossed 60 million, a number that was almost unheard of in India’s creator ecosystem at the time.
Also read: The Human Cost of TikTok Ban: India and USA
Why was everyone obsessed?
Team 07 wasn’t just popular; it had one of the most passionate fan communities Indian social media had ever seen.
Fans created edits, trended hashtags, and treated the group like celebrities. Their collaborations with Bollywood personalities, major brand partnerships, and constant viral presence made them the face of Indian TikTok.
Many fans genuinely believed: “Faisu Nahi Toh TikTok Nahi.”
The controversy and decline
In 2019, the group faced major backlash after a controversial TikTok video linked to the Tabrez Ansari lynching case sparked national outrage. FIRs were filed, accounts faced suspension, and mainstream media attention followed.
Less than a year later, TikTok itself disappeared from India.
Where are they now?
Faisal Shaikh (Mr Faisu) emerged as the biggest success story from the group. Today, he has evolved into a mainstream celebrity through reality shows, music videos, major brand endorsements, and high-profile collaborations.
Adnaan Shaikh continues creating lifestyle and entertainment content while maintaining a strong social media presence.
Hasnain Khan remains active through fashion and lifestyle content, retaining a loyal audience from the TikTok era.
Faiz Baloch continues influencer partnerships and digital content creation.
Shadan Farooqui remains active online, though with a lower profile compared to Team 07’s peak years.
Legacy
The most iconic male creator collective of the TikTok generation.
Darbar Squad — The Creator Family That Outsmarted the Ban
The ecosystem before creator ecosystems existed
Unlike most TikTok groups, the Darbar Squad was built on performance.
Led by choreographer Awez Darbar, the group combined dance, transitions, entertainment content, and collaborations into one of India’s most influential short-form content machines.
Every week seemed to bring a new challenge, trend, or viral collaboration.
What made them different
The biggest reason for their longevity was simple: individual identities.
While many creator groups relied heavily on collective fame, each member of the Darbar ecosystem built a separate audience.
When TikTok disappeared, they already had personal brands strong enough to survive.
Where are they now?
Awez Darbar continues to thrive as a creator, entrepreneur, choreographer, and music-video collaborator.
Anam Darbar successfully transitioned into lifestyle and family-focused content while maintaining brand partnerships.
Zaid Darbar expanded into entertainment projects and gained wider visibility after marrying actress Gauahar Khan.
Nagma Mirajkar remains one of the strongest female creators from the TikTok era, focusing on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content.
Legacy
The creator family that successfully evolved beyond TikTok.
DamnFam — India’s Most Successful Creator House Experiment
The Gen Z collective everyone wanted to join.
If Team 07 represented friendship and Darbar Squad represented performance, DamnFam represented creator-house culture.
Featuring Aashna Hegde, Manav Chhabra, Unnati Malharkar, Ashi Khanna, Tanzeel Khan, Sanket Mehta, and Rishabh Chawla, the group became one of India’s most talked-about Gen Z collectives.
Their content mixed friendship dynamics, relationships, challenges, dances, and daily life moments that made followers feel like part of the group.
What happened after TikTok?
Unlike many collectives that disappeared entirely, DamnFam members continued building independent careers.
Aashna Hegde expanded into lifestyle and fashion content.
Manav Chhabra strengthened his presence across Instagram and YouTube.
Unnati Malharkar grew her identity as a dancer, performer, and creator.
Ashi Khanna built a strong Gen Z audience around lifestyle content.
Tanzeel Khan successfully transitioned into music and independent artistry.
Sanket Mehta and Rishabh Chawla continued creating content while exploring entrepreneurship and collaborations.
Legacy
India’s most influential creator-house experiment.
Riyaz Aly — TikTok’s Biggest Teen Idol
The face of Indian TikTok
At his peak, Riyaz Aly was arguably the most recognisable TikTok creator in India.
His massive fanbase, music-video appearances, and celebrity-like popularity made him the platform’s biggest youth star.
Today
Riyaz remains active through music videos, endorsements, and social media content.
Legacy
The closest thing Indian TikTok had to a teenage superstar.
Avneet Kaur — From Child Actor to Global Influencer
The creator who crossed every platform
Already known from television, Avneet Kaur used TikTok to dramatically expand her Gen Z audience.
Today
She has successfully transitioned into films, fashion campaigns, luxury collaborations, and international appearances.
Legacy
One of the strongest TV-to-digital success stories in India.
Jannat Zubair — The Ultimate Creator-Celebrity Hybrid
Building on television fame
Jannat entered TikTok with an established television career, but the platform introduced her to an entirely new generation of followers.
Today
She balances acting, entrepreneurship, reality shows, and influencer marketing campaigns.
Legacy
A blueprint for how traditional celebrities can thrive in creator culture.
Siddharth Nigam — The Actor Who Never Left Digital Behind
The perfect crossover creator
While many actors treated TikTok as a side platform, Siddharth Nigam embraced creator culture fully.
Today
He continues acting while maintaining a strong presence through fitness, lifestyle, and travel content.
Legacy
Proof that creators and actors can successfully exist in both worlds.
The End of TikTok, The Beginning of the Creator Economy
TikTok may have disappeared from India in 2020, but its impact never really left.
It introduced the country to creator gangs, fan armies, creator houses, and influencer culture long before they became industry buzzwords. It also created the first generation of digital stars who proved that fame could come from a smartphone screen.
Some adapted. Some faded and a few more became mainstream celebrities.
But together, they built the blueprint for the creator economy India knows today.