SRINAGAR : Singer and performer Qazi Touqeer from Srinagar has entered the Bigg Boss 20 house, marking his return to the national entertainment spotlight nearly two decades after he shot to fame by winning the popular singing reality show Fame Gurukul.
Touqeer was introduced as the third contestant of Salman Khan-hosted Bigg Boss 20 during the show’s grand premiere on Sunday, according to live updates from The Indian Express.
A familiar name to many Kashmiris, Touqeer rose to nationwide prominence in 2005 after winning Fame Gurukul alongside Ruprekha Banerjee. His performances on the reality show made him one of the early stars of India’s music-reality television era.
Known for his work in Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu, Touqeer became particularly popular with songs including Yeh Pal. His journey also has an interesting connection with singer Arijit Singh, who was among the participants associated with Fame Gurukul during that period.
Touqeer, who hails from Srinagar, comes from a family with links to the arts. His father was reportedly a lawyer before turning towards a Sufi spiritual life, while his mother worked as a teacher. His uncle, Qazi Rafi, was also known as a Kashmiri singer.
Despite his early success, Touqeer subsequently remained away from the mainstream limelight for several years. His entry into Bigg Boss 20 now gives him another major national platform to reconnect with audiences and showcase his personality beyond his earlier singing career.
The Bigg Boss 20 premiere aired on September 6, with Salman Khan returning as host for the show’s landmark 20th season. The season features a mix of actors, singers, influencers, sportspersons and other public figures.
For Kashmir, Touqeer’s participation is notable as a Srinagar-born singer makes his presence felt on one of India’s biggest mainstream reality platforms, nearly 21 years after his breakthrough on Fame Gurukul.
