Cinema VinesQazi Touqeer, the singer who first rose to prominence after winning the reality singing contest Fame Gurukul in 2005, recently spoke about a pivotal moment in his early career. During an interview with Aamrapali Dubey, he recalled meeting television producer Ekta Kapoor in 2005 and the offer she extended to him, which he ultimately declined. The singer explained that at the time he was only 20 years old and still finding his footing in the industry.
According to Qazi, the television opportunity presented by Kapoor was substantial, but he chose not to pursue it. He said, “I never did TV. The TV offers were huge, but I was lucky enough that Ekta Kapoor came to me in 2005 and narrated the story.” He added that he had already committed to a film project and had a signed contract, which he communicated to Kapoor through a woman named Anupama, saying, “Ma’am, I am already doing a film. I have a contract, it’s already signed.”
After the decision, the media reacted sharply. Qazi recalled seeing headlines the next morning that suggested he had deliberately turned down Kapoor for a bigger opportunity. He said, “I was watching breakfast, ‘Qazi ditched Ekta Kapoor. Qazi has a bigger fish to fry.’ That paper, that media, is like that.” He noted that in 2005 there was no social media to quickly clarify his stance, leading to a negative portrayal that branded him as arrogant.
Qazi’s career trajectory continued to evolve after Fame Gurukul. He ventured into acting, appearing in the song “Afghan Jalebi” from the film Phantom, and later participated in the reality show Sarkaar Ki Duniya. After years of live performances and other projects, he returned to the limelight as a contestant on Salman Khan‑hosted Bigg Boss 20 in 2026.
Reflecting on the incident, Qazi expressed frustration at the media’s portrayal, stating, “There was no social media at the time to clarify my side of the story. It became bad‑mouthing, it became arrogant.” His candid discussion highlights the challenges artists face when navigating early career opportunities and public perception.
