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Exclusive! Mr Faisu on the Mere Mehboob trend that took over the internet: Qayamat hi ho gayi
Faisal Shaikh, aka Mr Faisu, shares the overwhelming response to Team 07's nostalgia as their 2019 lip-sync video resurfaces, sparking a movement
Social media influencer and digital content creator Faisal Shaikh, popularly known as Mr Faisu, is currently riding a wave of viral nostalgia with his groupTeam 07, elated and he says, “Qayamat hi ho gayi…” . As his 2019 lip-sync video to the Kishore Kumar classic Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, a staple of the TikTok era has found a second life. Following a student activism remix, the trend exploded, prompting Faisal and the original Team 07 to reunite for a self-aware, highly anticipated recreation, “They say the internet has a short memory, but sometimes, a single viral trend can rewrite the rules,” shares Shaikh.
The resurgence has been nothing short of a movement. With hundreds of recreations by actors, politicians, and everyday users flooding the internet, the trend has amassed millions of views. “It’s genuinely overwhelming to see something we created so many years ago come back in such a big way and become a part of Gen Z culture again, even taking our country’s politics in its stride,” Faisal says.
Reflecting on the evolution of the trend, Faisal admits the initial reaction in 2019 was localised, but today’s response is universal. “Honestly, we didn't expect this kind of response back then. It was limited, but today, it has all generations—Gen Z, millennial, and even boomers—busy recreating it. What started as a simple recreation with the boys became a massive movement,” he shares. “The original reel we made almost eight years ago resurfaced during student protests, and our new version has already crossed 155 million views. Seeing creators, celebrities, politicians, and brands join in is surreal.”
The viral reunion wasn't strictly calculated, but rather a perfect alignment of timing and nostalgia. “It was a little bit of both,” Faisal explains. “We saw that there was a gap of so many years and thought, why not bring back that moment? There was also this feeling of ‘Season 1 ke players wapas aa gaye hain.’ Since 2026 has brought back so many memories from the 2016-2019 era, we felt it was the perfect time to recreate something people loved back then.”
When asked about seeing industry stalwarts and stars jump on the trend, Faisal remains grounded. “I feel extremely happy and humbled. I loved when Anupam Kher sir and Boman Irani sir recreated it. And Raveena Tandon, who is one of my favourites, doing her version was absolutely amazing. Seeing people from different parts of the industry joining in and putting their own spin on it is something I never imagined when we first made that reel years ago.”
Faisal views the current Gen Z embrace of his early content as a testament to the lasting impact of Team 07’s work. “I definitely feel proud. We were creating content at a time when short-form media was still finding its space, and to see Gen Z connecting with it is really special. I think this generation is extremely creative, expressive, and quick to embrace new trends while bringing their own personality to them.”
Even with the nostalgia, the shoot was full of candid moments. “We were all extremely excited and kept coming up with ideas. At one point, we even thought, why not bring Adnaan’s kid into the video and make him a part of this reunion?” he laughs. As for what lies ahead, Faisal is keeping his eyes on new horizons. “I’m working towards that, preparing myself,” he concludes. “Hopefully, you’ll see me on an OTT platform very soon.”
