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.
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.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Bigg Boss connection
Before Touqeer, several personalities with roots in Jammu and Kashmir have appeared on Bigg Boss, with some making particularly strong impressions.
Hina Khan, who was born in Srinagar, participated in Bigg Boss 11 in 2017. She emerged as the first runner-up, with Shilpa Shinde winning the season. Hina was among the most prominent contestants of the season and her stint significantly expanded her popularity beyond television audiences.
Asim Riaz, who hails from Jammu, participated in Bigg Boss 13 and emerged as the first runner-up, behind winner Sidharth Shukla. His aggressive competitive style, clashes with fellow contestants and relationship with Himanshi Khurana made him one of the season’s most talked-about participants.
Mahira Sharma, who has roots in Jammu, was also part of Bigg Boss 13. She spent 136 days inside the house and finished seventh. Her friendship and relationship with Paras Chhabra became one of the prominent storylines of the season.
Aly Goni, who was born in Bhaderwah, represented the Jammu region on Bigg Boss 14. He entered the house as a challenger and went on to finish fourth. His relationship with Jasmin Bhasin and friendship with Rahul Vaidya were among the major talking points during his stint.
Umar Riaz, brother of Asim Riaz, entered Bigg Boss 15 in 2021. A doctor who later pursued modelling and acting, Umar developed a substantial following during his time on the show. However, his journey ended after he was ejected following a physical altercation with Pratik Sehajpal.
Most recently, Srinagar-born actress Farrhana Bhatt appeared on Bigg Boss 19 in 2025. She eventually reached the grand finale and finished as the first runner-up, making her one of the most successful contestants from Jammu and Kashmir in the show’s history.
Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, with Salman Khan returning as host for the show’s landmark 20th season. The current season features actors, singers, influencers, sportspersons and other public figures.
