Qazi Touqeer has returned to reality TV, 21 years after winning Fame Gurukul in 2005.
He is now participating in Bigg Boss 20. His appearance has also brought attention to his connection with singer Arijit Singh, who was among the contestants on Fame Gurukul that year and finished sixth.
Qazi and Arijit met as contestants on the show and remained in touch after it ended. Arijit has now spoken about Qazi's participation in Bigg Boss 20.
So, how did the two singers meet, and what has their friendship looked like since Fame Gurukul?
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It Started With Fame Gurukul In 2005
Qazi Touqeer and Arijit Singh first crossed paths on Fame Gurukul, the Sony TV singing reality show that aired in 2005.
At the time, both were young singers competing for an opportunity to establish themselves in the music industry.
Qazi went on to win the competition alongside Ruprekha Banerjee. Arijit, meanwhile, was eliminated before the finale.
The result did not determine where either singer's career would eventually go.
Qazi continued working in music and entertainment after Fame Gurukul. He also released music with Ruprekha, including the album Yeh Pal.
Arijit's journey took a different route.
After the reality show, he worked as a music programmer and assistant before making his playback singing debut in Hindi cinema. His career later took off with songs including “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2.
The two therefore left the same reality show with very different professional journeys ahead of them.
But their connection did not end there.
Qazi Touqeer And Arijit Singh’s Friendship
Qazi has spoken about staying in contact with Arijit after Fame Gurukul. In a 2018 interview with Hindustan Times, he said Arijit was the one person from his Fame Gurukul circle in the Bollywood music industry with whom he was still in touch.
Qazi also said he listened to Arijit's music and was happy to see his former co-contestant achieve his goals.
The two met again in 2026, when Qazi visited Arijit in Jiaganj, West Bengal. Qazi shared moments from the visit, including riding around with Arijit and playing cricket together.
He also spoke about watching Arijit work on music and edit tracks late into the night.
The visit showed that their association had continued years after their time on Fame Gurukul.
Why Arijit Singh Is Watching Bigg Boss 20
Qazi joined the Bigg Boss 20 house when the new season premiered in September 2026.
After his entry, Arijit Singh posted on X: “I will have to watch Bigg Boss for the first time because our very own rockstar Qazi is on it.”
The post came more than two decades after the two singers first met. Since then, both have continued their work in music, with Arijit also establishing a career as a playback singer.
For Qazi, Bigg Boss 20 marks his return to reality television after 21 years.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Qazi Touqeer?
Qazi Touqeer won Fame Gurukul in 2005 and is now a contestant on Bigg Boss 20.
How does Qazi know Arijit Singh?
The two met as contestants on Fame Gurukul in 2005, where Arijit finished sixth.
Are Qazi and Arijit still in touch?
Yes. Qazi said in a 2018 interview that Arijit was the one person from his Fame Gurukul circle in the Bollywood music industry he was still in touch with.
Why is Arijit Singh watching Bigg Boss 20?
Arijit said he would watch the show for Qazi, calling him “apna rockstar Qazi”.
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