Who Is Qazi Touqeer? His Bigg Boss 20 Journey, Fame Gurukul Past and Controversies
Qazi Touqeer Bigg Boss 20 has become one of the season's more closely followed storylines. The Srinagar singer walked into Salman Khan's house with a rockstar persona. Over four weeks he has combined humour, song, theatrical reactions and a few serious confrontations. His return to reality television is introducing him to a new generation of viewers, while reminding older audiences of the Fame Gurukul contestant they watched in 2005.
Qazi Touqeer Bigg Boss 20 latest (as of 2 October 2026): reports show him still in the house and nominated in week four. The weekend eviction had not aired when this was written, so his status may change after the next Weekend Ka Vaar.
Why Did Qazi Touqeer Enter Bigg Boss 20?
No reliable source has explained why the makers picked him, so this section sticks to what is on record. He entered at the 6 September grand premiere, introduced as the third contestant. Kashmir Life described his arrival as a return to the national spotlight after several years away from the mainstream. It added that the show gives him a platform to show a personality beyond his singing career.
The contrast is the story. In 2005 he was a contestant on a singing competition, judged on performance. In Bigg Boss, there is no stage to be judged on. Personality, humour and conflict decide how viewers see him. That gives him a chance to reach people who never saw Fame Gurukul.
Qazi Touqeer's Bigg Boss 20 Journey So Far
Week one: the Rockstar arrives. Within days of the premiere, his humour, singing, dramatic reactions and a repeated "I am a Rockstar, baby" line had made him one of the season's most discussed contestants. At the first Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman Khan called him the rockstar of the house and praised his opening week. A Bigg Boss-focused fan page also placed him first in its week one rankings. That ranking is a fan opinion, not an audience measurement.
Week two: the health-scare controversy. The first major controversy came when Qazi faked a medical emergency. Housemates were worried until he admitted he was pretending. At the Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman addressed it, and Qazi's first confrontation with Rhiti Tiwari followed (covered below)
Week three: clashes and captaincy. A captaincy task involving Qazi and Yung DSA escalated into a heated argument, and Isha Rikhi became emotional while trying to intervene. Around the same time came the diss battle involving Uditi Singh and Rhiti Tiwari. On 26 September he completed 100 consecutive push-ups and called it merely his warm-up.
Week four: nominations and a mid-week exit. Qazi was among 11 contestants nominated for eviction. His nomination came from a task in which he and Uditi could not agree on who should be safe, so both were nominated. Rhiti Tiwari was then evicted in a surprise mid-week elimination. A social-media update relayed by India.com claimed Qazi became emotional after her exit and wished her well. That claim is unverified.
Qazi Touqeer's Most Talked-About Bigg Boss 20 Moments
The health-scare controversy. The prank and the reaction to it are separate. Qazi's act worried housemates, and it later became a talking point on the show. Salman said it used health as entertainment while others were genuinely concerned. He then staged his own chest-pain moment on stage to make the point. Afterwards he said he was fine and criticised how the promo was edited. We could not find a reliable account of what Qazi himself said beyond admitting the act.
The 100 push-ups. Completed on 26 September, the moment spread because it fit his larger-than-life image.
The Rockstar identity. The catchphrase gave viewers a quick way to describe him. It also became a taunt, when Rhiti mocked it during their argument, and a compliment, when Salman used the word for him.
Nominations. He was nominated in week four. An unofficial voting trend published by Siasat on 30 September placed him first among nominees, but such trends are not official figures.
Qazi Touqeer and Rhiti Tiwari Clash
The disagreement began after Salman questioned Qazi about the health stunt. According to ANI's coverage, Rhiti confronted him and the exchange turned personal. She mocked his catchphrase and called him a fraudster. Qazi asked her not to abuse him, and when she made a remark about his father, he asked her not to bring his father into it. She later apologised for that remark.
The tension returned in the diss battle (below). Per The Statesman, Rhiti accused Qazi of physically charging at her during the task. Salman did not take her side. He criticised her language towards both Uditi and Qazi, and praised Qazi and Uditi for how they handled the confrontation. Rhiti was evicted days later. The Statesman linked the nomination partly to Uditi's choice in a house task and to how her behaviour towards Qazi had become a talking point.
Qazi Touqeer, Uditi Singh and the Diss Battle
During the captaincy task, the diss battle was meant to have opposing team members take digs at each other. WION reports that Uditi chose not to perform her round and asked Qazi to rap on her behalf. When it was Rhiti's turn to target Uditi, she allegedly used derogatory and objectifying language, and Uditi broke down in tears.
Accounts of what followed differ:
Qazi Touqeer's side: WION reports he said Rhiti had crossed the line from a roast into abusive language. His reaction was also forceful. He threw his jacket, banged tables and told her to shut up, then addressed her father, Manoj Tiwari, directly on camera.
Uditi's side: she retaliated with severe personal insults of her own.
Rhiti's side: she later alleged Qazi had charged at her.
Yung DSA's team, which included Rhiti, technically won the diss battle. Mary Kom emerged as captain after a follow-up task.
Qazi Touqeer's Other Bigg Boss 20 Interactions
The argument with Yung DSA is the other notable one, as it escalated during a captaincy task and drew Isha Rikhi in. Beyond that, Qazi has been seen reflecting on his old friendship with Arijit Singh inside the house, per Rising Kashmir, which also reports that Arijit has publicly backed his return. Other incidents mostly stem from social-media clips, so they are left out.
How Are Fans Reacting to Qazi Touqeer?
Appreciation: viewers have praised his entertainment value and how he handled the Rhiti fight. Hina Khan reportedly praised his ability to draw attention without depending only on fights, and Gauahar Khan commented on the social-media buzz around him.
Nostalgia: people in Kashmir, in particular, describe watching him as a throwback to school and college days.
Criticism: not everyone is convinced. One viewer wrote that his dramatic scenes during serious fights could wear thin.
Fan reactions here are opinion, not measurement.
Is Qazi Touqeer One of the Most Searched Bigg Boss 20 Contestants?
According to a report from Siasat, a Bigg Boss fan account on X shared Google search data over a seven-day period. It reportedly placed Scout OP first with about 345K searches and Qazi second with about 275K.
This figure could not be independently verified. It is not official Google data, so read it as a sign of rising interest and not a confirmed ranking.
Yes. I’d make these two sections feel like part of the editorial rather than just a list of songs. Since the YouTube view count changes over time, I’d phrase it as “over 700 million views” rather than locking it to an exact number.
One of His Biggest Musical Hits
One of Qazi Touqeer’s most recognisable musical associations is “Afghan Jalebi (Ya Baba)”, the popular track from the 2015 film Phantom, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif. The song has crossed 700 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most widely viewed songs connected to his career. The track also reflects the continued reach of Qazi’s voice beyond his Fame Gurukul years and into mainstream Bollywood music.
Listen to More of Qazi Touqeer
Beyond his best-known Bollywood association, Qazi Touqeer has continued to be connected with music and live performance. For readers who want to explore more of his musical work, his Spotify profile offers an easy way to discover his songs and recordings. Listen to Qazi Touqeer on Spotify and explore more of his music beyond his Bigg Boss 20 appearance.
From Fame Gurukul to Bigg Boss 20
Fame Gurukul, a Sony Entertainment Television singing show, is where Qazi first became a household name. He and Ruprekha Banerjee were declared joint winners on 20 October 2005. He won despite judges' criticism and time in the danger zone, because viewers backed him. Arijit Singh, on the same season, finished sixth and was eliminated before the finale, so the "Qazi beat Arijit" framing is slightly off.
That is why older viewers remember him, and why his Bigg Boss 20 appearance reads as a comeback.
What Did Qazi Touqeer Do After Fame Gurukul?
He released music with Ruprekha Banerjee, including the album Qazi-Ruprekha Jodi No.1 and the song Yeh Pal.
Rising Kashmir reports he appeared in the 2015 Afghan Jalebi music video alongside Katrina Kaif.
He stayed away from the mainstream for several years, per Kashmir Life.
Why Is Qazi Touqeer Trending on Bigg Boss 20?
Daily Bigg Boss 20 visibility, including the weekend episodes
Fame Gurukul nostalgia
Viral clips of his humour, singing and reactions
The Rockstar persona
Clashes with Rhiti Tiwari, Yung DSA and others
Salman Khan's public comments on him
A reported rise in search interest
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Qazi Touqeer?
Qazi Touqeer is a Srinagar-born singer and performer who won Fame Gurukul in 2005 alongside Ruprekha Banerjee. He sings in Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu, and he is currently a contestant on Bigg Boss 20, hosted by Salman Khan.
Is Qazi Touqeer a contestant on Bigg Boss 20?
Yes. He entered at the 6 September premiere as the third contestant introduced. As of the latest reports on 2 October 2026, he remains in the house and was nominated in week four. His status may change after the weekend eviction, so check the latest episode.
What is Qazi Touqeer known for?
He is known for winning Fame Gurukul in 2005 and for his singing across Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu, including the song Yeh Pal. On Bigg Boss 20, he is known for humour, dramatic reactions and the Rockstar catchphrase.
Was Qazi Touqeer the winner of Fame Gurukul?
Yes, jointly. He and Ruprekha Banerjee were declared winners on 20 October 2005. Arijit Singh, who was on the same season, was eliminated earlier and finished sixth, so the two did not meet in the finale.
How old is Qazi Touqeer? Reported information differs. One outlet gives his birth date as 4 June 1986, making him 40, but notes some reports say 1985. He has not confirmed this in any source we found, so his exact age remains unconfirmed.
Why is Qazi Touqeer trending on Bigg Boss 20?A mix of factors: viral house moments, his Rockstar persona, the health-scare controversy, clashes with housemates, Salman Khan's comments and nostalgia from Fame Gurukul viewers. A fan account also reported strong search interest, though that figure is unverified.
What happened between Qazi Touqeer and Rhiti Tiwari?
They argued after Salman questioned Qazi about his fake medical emergency, and again during a diss battle task. Qazi said Rhiti crossed a line, while she alleged he charged at her. Salman criticised her language, and she was later evicted in a mid-week elimination.
Is Qazi Touqeerone of the most searched Bigg Boss 20 contestants? Reportedly. A fan account shared Google search data placing him second with about 275K searches in a week, behind Scout OP. This is not official Google data and could not be independently verified.
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