Many new short video platforms have sprung up since the ban on Chinese apps, and are vying for the loyalty of former TikTok stars. But how many will survive?
Moni Kundu, who posted comic videos with her son on TikTok, had 6.2 million followers on the platform
Image: Robin Singh
Jaydeep Gohil, better known as Hydroman on TikTok, shot to fame when he posted a video of himself dancing underwater. After practising in a swimming pool in his hometown of Rajkot for almost a year in 2012, Gohil convinced his father, a businessman, to build an over-the-ground concrete tank at home. “In the pool I could only practice for one hour, after that the next batch of swimmers would come in,” says the 25-year-old.
His father agreed and when he saw what his son was up to, thanks to an underwater camera, he was taken aback. Within a year, he bought him a 10,000 litre glass tank to let people see his moves live. In 2015, Gohil entered the India’s Got Talent competition and made it to the semi-finals. Since then he’s been touring cities across India with live performances.
(This story appears in the 31 July, 2020 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)