enjoy Qazi fans--sry if its already been posted
l Qazi Tauqeer
He's a born star and he knows it. This 20-year-old has loads of attitude and oozes phenomenal confidence for one so young. But that's probably what worked in Fame Gurukul winner Qazi Tauqeer's favour. "I knew I could do it. When I saw the ad, I told my family that I was going to apply for the contest. I was destined to win the show. I had the support of the public," he says. Tell him that the judges didn't think too highly of him and he cheekily retorts, "Sometimes even when a critic rips a film apart, it still goes on to become a box office success, doesn't it? My situation is very similar to this. The public voted me back eight times."
Right now the cool dude is riding high on his success, "I have been getting fan mails from all over the world, from countries like US, Bangladesh, France, Italy and even Nigeria. There are girls writing love-letters to me in blood. It is unbelievable," says the youngster who tells you upfront that he wants to become an actor. He is quick to tell you that, "I have no time for girls in my life. Even when I am with a girl, I am always talking about my plans of becoming an actor, so none of these girls take me seriously. They think I am mad."
That he is mad about acting becomes more than evident as his conversation is peppered with constant references to his original dream. "I remember performing at a show at the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar three years back, on April 13 to be precise. It was the festival of Baisakhi. I sang and danced to numbers from Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan's films and the crowd went gaga over my performance," he proudly states. Needless to say he is a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan, but ask him whether he would like to meet the star and he retorts with his characteristic cheekiness, "Right now I don't even get time to meet my parents, so how will I meet Shah Rukh Khan?"
If he sounds cocky and conceited, you can just put it down to the brashness of youth. "I have a flair for singing. I want to be like Kishore Kumar, who was not a trained singer. He sang with passion. That's what I want to do. Sing from my heart." There is no stopping Qazi however. Ask him about his wonder years in Kashmir and he proudly tells you, "I've changed five schools because I was very naughty. I grew up in a joint family and we all live in a haveli. I remember being obsessed with acting since my childhood days" In order to brush up his acting skills, he roamed around the gardens of Kashmir with a video camera, practicing his art.
"Once I even went to PVR cinema in Delhi and posed as a TV reporter, quizzing people on their opinion about a movie. They all answered my questions earnestly and must have only realised the next day that they had been fooled," he laughs at the memory.
But before you dismiss him as a fun loving kid, a sensitive side emerges. Ask him about growing up amid all that turmoil and unrest and he says emotionally, "Kashmir is home to me. I'm here in Mumbai lekin Kashmir ki mitti aur Dal lake ki khusbhoo bahut yaad aati hai. I don't know much about politics but whatever is happening is not nice. Innocent people are getting killed and I wish that would stop. It hurts when you hear about or watch bloodshed. It is so unnecessary and futile."
He cheers up quickly enough to tell you that, "The people of Kashmir are my biggest fans. They are very proud of me and waiting for me to visit home." And when will that be? "As soon as I can find time," he says. One thing's for sure, Qazi Tauqeer is here to stay.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
