Every Bigg Boss season produces one contestant the audience can’t stop discussing. In season 20, that person is Qazi Touqeer. He is a singer from Srinagar who won a reality show more than twenty years ago, and he now has the country’s biggest living-room audience again. Whether he is the “epitome” of the season, as his fans put it, depends on what you value in a contestant. This article looks at the facts: where he came from, what has happened in the house, where he has been criticised, and what the latest developments say about his run.
Who is Qazi Touqeer?
Touqeer is not a newcomer. According to Wikipedia, Qazi Ahmad Touqeer was born on 4 June 1986 and is an Indian singer, television personality and occasional actor who won Fame Gurukul alongside Ruprekha Banerjee. He sings in Kashmiri, Hindi, Urdu and English. Brut’s explainer adds the setting: he comes from Srinagar and won the 2005 show with Ruprekha Banerjee.
Young viewers sometimes assume he beat Arijit Singh, who also appeared on that show. Brut corrects this directly: Arijit was eliminated before the final, while Qazi and Ruprekha went on to win.
ETV Bharat’s profile describes how big that win was at the time. The victory made him a national celebrity almost overnight, and his later work, including an appearance in the song “Afghan Jalebi” from the 2015 film Phantom, was far quieter than his 2005 popularity. That gap of roughly twenty years between peak fame and a comeback is a big part of why his story resonates with viewers.
Entering the house
Brut reports that Bigg Boss 20 premiered on 6 September 2026 and is hosted by Salman Khan. Touqeer was among the contestants from day one.
The early response was strong. On the first Weekend Ka Vaar, Zee News reported that Khan playfully mimicked Touqeer’s signature style and declared him the only “rockstar” in the house. That label has stuck. ETV Bharat notes that Touqeer gained nearly six lakh Instagram followers after the season premiered, and that Arijit Singh publicly backed his appearance, saying he would watch because his “rockstar” was there.
For a contestant on a show that runs on screen time and social media buzz, that is an unusually good start.
What has made him popular?
Based on the coverage, a few things stand out.
Humour that lands. On 29 October, Glamsham reported that during a heated argument between two other housemates, Touqeer cracked a joke that combined two hairstyles into one invented word, which went viral and left fans asking why he gets so little screen time. Moments like this, where he lowers the temperature without taking sides, tend to do well with viewers tired of constant shouting.
Warmth and fun. On 31 October, Glamsham published a clip of Touqeer in a playful Halloween moment with fellow contestant Mahhi Vij. It is small, but small moments are what keep a contestant likeable during the long middle stretch of a season.
A message that resonated. Another Glamsham headline from 30 October says he gave fans Shah Rukh Khan’s “Raees” vibes with a powerful message. I could not verify the exact words, so I will not quote them. It does show that viewers are tracking his on-camera speeches.
Straightforwardness. ETV Bharat quotes a friend, Rafi, saying that Salman Khan appreciated Touqeer’s honesty and his straightforward nature. That is secondhand praise, but it matches how the host first described him.
Public support, including from the Chief Minister
The most striking recent development is political. On 31 October, Kashmir Despatch reported that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah backed Touqeer during a podcast with journalist Shubhankar Mishra and said he would vote for him. The same report says Abdullah recalled that Touqeer had won a reality competition and had read about it in newspapers.
A sitting chief minister endorsing a contestant is rare. It shows how strongly Kashmiri viewers have rallied behind him. It also shows how regional pride shapes voting on shows like this one. Touqeer is among the best-known Kashmiri faces on national television right now, and that identity clearly matters to many of his supporters.
The setbacks and the criticism
An honest account has to include the other side. Calling anyone the “epitome” of a season invites scrutiny, and Touqeer has had his share.
The “lollipop” comment. Outlook India reported that Salman Khan reprimanded Touqeer during Weekend Ka Vaar over an offhand “lollipop” comment he made to fellow contestant Kanika Mann, and asked why he had not apologised sooner. The same report says Kanika told Salman she felt Touqeer had become arrogant about his gameplay. Khan’s advice, as quoted in the promo, was that when someone feels your intentions are wrong, you should simply back off.
Other pulled-up moments. Several headlines from the Bigg Boss coverage around the same period mention Khan calling him out over a remark, and over an incident involving another housemate’s food. I could only see the headlines, not full details, so I would not read too much into them. They do show that he has been on the host’s radar more than once.
A prank. Wikipedia’s entry notes that Touqeer attracted attention for a prank in the house that was later addressed by Salman Khan. The details are not spelled out there.
Nominations. India Forums reported a week in which Uditi, Arishfa Khan, Mary Kom, Love, Qazi Touqeer and Aasif Khan were reportedly nominated for eviction. In another week, according to the same outlet, he and Uditi could not agree on who should be safe and ended up nominated together. Nominations are routine in Bigg Boss, but they do show that popularity outside the house does not guarantee safety inside it.
The health scare
In early October, a rumour spread that Touqeer had quit the show with dengue. Bollywood Shaadis reports that on 6 October his team posted a long note on his Instagram saying he had had a fever for a few days but was still inside the house.
The same article describes an uncomfortable moment. Uditi was seen calling his medical reports fake on the live feed, and Bigg Boss then stepped in to say he was not faking and would not be made to do anything while unwell. The episode gave his supporters another reason to defend him, though it also showed how quickly rumours move around this show.
Is “the epitome of BB20” a fair label?
Here is my honest assessment, based only on the public coverage.
The case for. He is widely discussed, has a loyal fan base, was praised by the host in week one, has drawn public backing from well-known figures, and brings humour to a tense house. For many viewers, he represents what they want from the show: someone talented, funny and not easily rattled.
The case against. “Epitome” implies he represents the best of the season in every sense. The host’s reprimands, the contestant who called him arrogant, and the fans’ own complaints about his edited screen time all complicate that picture. Strong support online also does not automatically translate into votes. Bigg Boss history is full of fan favourites who left earlier than expected, and equally of unexpected winners.
A fairer description is probably that Touqeer is one of the defining personalities of the season. Whether he is its best contestant is for viewers to decide with their votes.
What to watch for next
Based on where things stand at the start of November, these are the questions that will shape his journey:
- Screen time. Fans say he is under-shown. If the show gives him more airtime, expect his numbers to climb.
- Handling conflict. His best moments are humorous. His worst were the ones where he was accused of crossing a line. How he navigates upcoming arguments will matter.
- Nominations and fan votes. Regional and online support will be tested whenever he is nominated.
- Weekend Ka Vaar. Salman Khan’s reactions have so far shaped how viewers see him, both positively and negatively.
- Health. He has already dealt with fever. A long season is physically demanding.
Conclusion
Qazi Touqeer’s story is a good television story whatever happens next. A singer who became a star as a teenager in 2005, faded from the spotlight for years, and returned at 40 to a season that has made him a talking point is the kind of arc audiences like. His supporters see a talented, honest performer. His critics see a contestant who has sometimes misjudged his behaviour. Both views are backed by what has actually happened on screen.
What is certain is that he has kept people talking for two months, and in a format built on attention, that counts for a lot.
Disclaimer: This article is for information and entertainment only. Bigg Boss storylines, nominations and evictions change quickly, so check official channels for the latest updates. It is not affiliated with the show, the channel or the contestant.