Meet 'Bigg Boss 20' Star Qazi Touqeer, The Singer Who Beat Arijit Singh Then Vanished From Spotlight
'Bigg Boss 20' has begun, and the reality series fans are eager to familiarise themselves with the contestants. Among the group of new participants, one of the most talked-about faces is Qazi Touqeer.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleBigg Boss 20 has officially commenced, and fans have been over the moon about the new participants. The show premiered on September 5, 2026, on JioHotstar and Colors TV with a fresh theme, some known faces and a whole lot of drama to go with it. So, as viewers rush to familiarise themselves with the group, let us introduce you to one of the most asked-about contestants, Qazi Touqeer.
Meet Fame Gurukul star Qazi Touqeer, who made a return with Bigg Boss 20
Salman Khan has officially opened the doors to the Bigg Boss house once again, and fans are already super excited about it. The grand premiere introduced viewers to this season's contestants, and Qazi Touqeer made it to the BB house. For those who don't know, Qazi is returning to reality TV after nearly two decades. He was last seen on Fame Gurukul, where he defeated Arijit Singh and lifted the trophy. But will history repeat itself and allow Qazi to take home the prize?
While the journey has just begun, all eyes are on the reality TV star of the mid-2000s. Fans are eager to see Qazi Toqueer on the big screen, while those unfamiliar with his work have been intrigued by his presence on the show. He became a household name in 2005 when he participated in Sony Entertainment Television's singing reality show Fame Gurukul. For the unversed, the show was based on the international Fame Academy format and brought together aspiring singers who competed for a chance to build careers in the music industry.
Talking about Qazi Toqueer's background, he hails from Srinagar and quickly became one of the show's most popular contestants. His popularity with viewers played a major role in his journey, and he was repeatedly saved from elimination thanks to public support. On October 20, 2005, Qazi and Ruprekha Banerjee were announced as the two winners of Fame Gurukul.
What happened to Qazi Toqueer after he defeated Arijit Singh in Fame Gurukul?
While the world came to know and love Arijit Singh, did you know he was also part of Fame Gurukul? He appeared in the same season as Qazi Touqeer and finished sixth in the competition. Qazi Touqeer and Ruprekha Banerjee raced ahead of the other contestants and ultimately emerged as the winners of the show. Although they were competitors on the show, Qazi and Arijit still share a strong bond today.
In 2026, Qazi shared a video from a reunion with Arijit in his hometown of Jiaganj, looking back at their Fame Gurukul days. Nonetheless, the question remains: what happened to Qazi Touqeer after he won Fame Gurukul? Well, the show gave Qazi a huge burst of popularity. However, his career afterwards did not follow the conventional Bollywood success story. He and Ruprekha released their album Yeh Pal, with Qazi also recording tracks like Karu Kya and Hero.
While Qazi Touqueer rose as a well-known voice, he also had ambitions of becoming an actor. He was later cast in Take Off, which was meant to mark his acting debut, but the film was never released. He once again tried his hand in the Bollywood music space, appearing years later on the track Afgan Jalebi, featuring Katrina Kaif, from the 2015 film Phantom. Nonetheless, it still didn't give him the kick he needed.
And now, over a decade later, he has once again given the industry another shot, this time with Salman Khan-starrer Bigg Boss 20. However, the format is extremely different from what Qazi Toqueer has previously faced. Bigg Boss will give viewers a chance to see his personality and, perhaps, introduce him to an entirely new generation of viewers, giving him the success he has long been waiting.
What are your thoughts on Qazi Touqueer joining the Bigg Boss 20 house? Let us know.
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