Qazi - Goodbye singing, hello acting - Page 2

India Uncut
Qazi Tauqeer's India
Dhiraj Nayyar writes in the Indian Express:

Markets have brought with them not only a huge range of goods, services and TV channels, but also a culture of individuality, opportunity and merit, quite distinct from the more parochial culture of caste, region and religion which ran and, in some places, still runs deep in India, especially in the functioning of institutions of the state. This is no surprise. The guardians of the state are only human. And humans are fallible, which makes the state fallible.
So what does Qazi Tauqeer, a winner of Fame Gurukul, have to do with all of this? Well, Nayyar makes the point that just a couple of decades ago, when Tauqeer was born, young people in India had nowhere near the array of choices and opportunities that Tauqeer, and all of us, have today. A liberalising India has created many more platforms for talented people, and we are finally moving towards a meritocratic society. There's still a long way to go, but we'll get there.

(For those Fame Gurukul watchers who point out that Qazi wasn't the best singer, and Rex and Arpita and blah-blah were better, let me reassure you that Rex and Arpita and blah-blah will also earn lakhs through live shows after the exposure they've got, as so many of the Indian Idol finalists did after that show picked a winner. It's not a zero-sum game, and there's enough there for everyone with talent.)
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Qazi Wins The Competition
Qazi & Rooprekha - India's First "Fame Jodi"

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Qazi Tauqeer & Rooprekha 00:42. Sony Entertainment Television Fame Jodi Qazi
Tauqeer & Rooprekha performing at Garuda Mall in Bangalore ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTpChfhRB5Q

Qazi's Interview ( Before Winning Fame Jodi):

He threatens to tie up his dreadlocks in a pony for that neat, slick look. He desperately wants to tone his body, since he feels he has shrunk after he stopped working out.

He finds his female fan following unbelievable. And all his bak-bak (he says) is genuine and unrehearsed.

Fame Gurukul's most-noticed contestant, Qazi Touqeer, makes no qualms about the fact that, though he wants to be an actor and performer, he applied for the Sony reality show to prove to his family that he was not a good-for-nothing.

"I would never be out of bed before 10 am and didn't even know how to slice an apple. The Gurukul has changed me and my life," says Qazi as tells us his about his journey to Fame…

The mole below my eye

About six months back, I started getting this wart-like growth that resulted in a mole. Initially, I was concerned and wanted to get rid of it. I consulted a doctor but my mother told me to let it be. "Woh tumhare liye lucky hoga."
And it is. My journey to Fame Gurukul began with the mole. The application and the auditions and the final selection, all happened in the last six months. I will never have the mole removed, though I know I want to become an actor — Qazi and the mole; that's another Fame Jodi.

June 2, 2005

Too many things happened on that day. It was the day I celebrated my 20th birthday, the day I was selected to be part of Fame Gurukul. It was the day I landed in Mumbai for the first time. And the day my mole looked bigger! And the day I saw the sea for the first time. Because of Fame Gurukul, I came to Mumbai; this is going to be my home.

Sufi influence

I stay in Srinagar with my mother, who is a schoolteacher, and my father who is a lawyer. Of late, my father has been greatly influenced by Sufi thoughts. We are constantly having people over; he loves to entertain.

People have an open invitation to our home. I have a younger brother, Tauseef. My favourite chachu, Qazi Rafi (a professional singer) and his family also stay with us. The one big regret I have is that I did not learn music from him — it would have helped me in Fame.

Bachpan se hero

At any event, there are some people who hog the limelight; they are the jaan of the party. I was always one of them. Everyone would call me the hero. Nervousness is something I don't know. I enjoy myself on the stage. In Srinagar, I would always take part in the Saaz aur Awaaz concert, which was dubbed the Saaz aur Qazi concert.

Unaffected by J&K trouble

Bomb blasts, violence, kidnappings… people ask me how we stay in Kashmir? I have never been affected by the happenings there, thank god. I led a normal life and did all the things a youngster does elsewhere. I studied at the SP High School and completed my class 12 from Amar Singh College, Srinagar.

Female attention

Honestly, there is no one special in my life. Last week, we performed at a Ganesh pandal and every time I flicked my hair, the girls would scream. It was the same when I performed at the Malhar festival at St Xavier's. It's not that I am playing up to them. I am enjoying myself on stage and I want them to enjoy too.

No playback singer

Why should I? I always wanted to act and perform live. I can't bear the thought that I put so much into a song and, on screen, it is someone else singing. I will act and do playback only for myself. Or I'd rather do music videos.

Sami , Qazi's Neighbour Tells us about Qazi :

Qazi had been different right from his childhood. He was witty and tried to look different. He wore long hair and performed dances in gardens and all the places he got to. Even the college senior students wouldn't allow him past the gate without a dance. He never learnt dance or singing from anyone but himself. His room had lot of mirrors and he performed there. Local guys used to make ridicule of his style but I guess they were jealous of his different looks.

Body building was another passion of Qazi and he wanted to be called a muscle-man. As far as I know him he had been very shy in childhood. He attended local school, Jamia Millia in Nawpora where his mother taught us. Like all other students I never thought he would become such a star, but honesty and his out-speaking quality is what I guess won him votes, fans and stardom.

Fame Jodi Album: Jodi No. 1

all the best Qazi...long way to go.....

Qwest, thanks for all the articles about one and only Qazi. I had read them all before however it kinda refreshed my memories. Tis pretty heartwarming for us admirers to read something nice written about him in this forum.

Originally posted by: PiyaBawri

😆Amen to that! 😆

Amen 😆

Originally posted by: luckyleo

Amen 😆

Before ridiculing Qazi just think if anyone is perfect in this world.Don't we all have some flaws at which others can laugh.

I wanna know the names of the films

My Thoughts.!!!!!

Qazi he is a very honest and also a dedicated individual, his determination brought him where he is today, Qazi Tauqeer Is Hardly A Singer he always wanted to be an actor. The music show on Sony called Fame Gurukul gave him the opportunity to fulfill his dream. The guy received many brickbats ranging from he can't sing to he is the poor man's version of Hritik Roshan.

I like to look at the bigger picture. A young guy from Kashmir comes to Mumbai with dreams in his eyes and those dreams get fulfilled. You would say- no big deal. I think it's a big deal because this generation of Kashmir's has seen nothing but violence and killing.

Decades back, Kashmir was the jewel of Indian crown. And it was said that if there is heaven on earth, then it is here. Ironically the situation has become if there is hell on earth, it is here. Where once Hindi movies were shot, there are no movie halls in Srinagar anymore. They have all closed down. Where you could hear the music once, you only hear bullet shots. So if a young lad from the strife torn region of this country comes out the shadow of guns to pursue music or acting I see hope.

I heartily congratulate Qazi and feel inexpressibly happy for him and accordingly for the Kashmiri people. We all are happy and excited for him, to see a Kashmiri but Qazi is a talented young man who is proud of his Kashmiri roots and does not let it deter him from his aims in life.

Peace to you all and Keep the Faith!
*understand with an open mind, consider with an open heart, and believe with an open soul*