Winner of Sony TV’s reality show, ‘Fame Gurukul’ Qazi Touqeer. File
| Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD
Almost forgotten after his brief spell of fame as the winner of the reality show ‘Fame Gurukul’ in 2005, singer Qazi Touqeer, 40, is fast becoming a cult figure in Kashmir. His stint on Bigg Boss has revived and widened his fan base, with his portraits appearing on walls, his songs playing at weddings and his performances circulating on social media.
In uptown Srinagar’s Wazir Bagh, a colourful, larger-than-life portrait of Mr. Touqeer in his signature style adorns a wall at the Books and Bricks cafe, drawing young and old alike to pose for photographs. It has been a long journey for Mr. Touqeer, born in Khanyar, in Srinagar’s old city, once a militancy hotbed and a centre of street protests. Like his old-style, stone-and-brick three-storey house in the congested locality of Khanyar, Mr. Touqeer, widely known as Qazi, remains rooted in the old city’s distinct, rustic character.
“Qazi represents the madness and resilience of a normal Kashmiri. He is out there wearing Kashmir proudly on his sleeve. He is someone everyone in Srinagar has seen every day for the past few years, sipping coffee on the Jhelum bund, on Boulevard Road and at random spots. We’ve seen him be his authentic self, be his creative self and be an absolutely humble human being. He kept Kashmir alive in every sentence and anecdote. He is relatable,” said Anam Khan, owner of the cafe.
On dedicating a cafe wall to Mr. Touqeer, Ms. Khan said, “This is a wall on the main road that connects the airport to the city. I wanted it to mean something. I’ve admired Qazi since I was a little girl. It just felt apt. It’s not just a tribute to him or in solidarity with him. It’s also a vivid memory of my father frantically voting for Qazi back in 2005 when he was diagnosed with cancer. ‘Fame Gurukul’ was his happy moment before we lost him,” said Ms. Khan.
Ms. Khan recalled that Mr. Touqeer had been a sensation in 2005 too, when each short message service (SMS) vote would cost ₹4-5. “For Gen Z, Qazi is authentic and real, and a fabulous entertainer. His quirky antics are the showrunner. Qazi is finally getting the break that he deserved as an entertainer. Besides, Qazi has Kashmir in focus, for the creativity of the community and industry. He is the personification of Kashmir’s raw madness, creativity, resilience and intelligence,” she added.
Craze beyond online
The craze extends beyond the online content creators filming reels to Mr. Touqeer’s songs in the show. Kashmir wedding celebrations, too, are taking to his tunes. Moin Khan, a singer who performs at weddings in the Valley, has brought Mr. Touqeer’s rendition of “Saawan mein lag gayi aag, mein hoon naag” to local wedding nights, performing an improvisation of the original song sung by Mika Singh.
The growing craze is not limited to songs. Junaid Iqbal, a painter, creates portraits of Mr. Touqeer not with a brush but with his tongue. “I created portraits of Qazi using my tongue. I hope people appreciate the talent produced by Kashmir,” said Mr. Iqbal.
A colourful mural featuring Bigg Boss contestant and Kashmiri singer Qazi Touqeer on October 21, 2026
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR
In the old city, Mr. Touqeer’s parents remain reluctant to speak to the media. His uncle, Dr. Tazeem Shah, said he had always dreamt of becoming a “superstar”. “He would write in notebooks since Class 10 that ‘I am a rockstar’. Qazi is a clean-hearted, pure soul without ego or evil. He stands out for being a God-fearing person,” said Mr. Shah.
Like elsewhere in the country, young people in Kashmir are recreating Mr. Touqeer’s songs and performances on social media. For years, he had faded into obscurity despite the popularity of the Bollywood song ‘Afghan Jalebi’. It was the roadside jigs with pedestrians that kept him alive as a social media star.
Published – October 21, 2026 06:57 pm IST
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