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It's pouring mobile text messages for Qazi Touqueer, a young contestant in the reality television show Fame Gurukul.
Though the judges (KK, Shankar Mahadevan and Javed Akhtar) don't seem to think much of his singing talents, the audience loves the young Kashmiri lad. "I can't understand why I keep getting chances. Char-char chances miley hain," he says.
Sony Entertainment has received innumerable text messages for Qazi to stay on though the judges want him out. "What do we do with this boy? He has proved there are forces stronger than talent to control stardom!" says Sony's Tarun Katyal.
Qazi chuckles. "I don't seem to be getting the boot. It must be my luck. But more than that, the viewers love me. Otherwise why would so many of them spend Rs 6 each to SMS (text message) in my favour? Kuch to baat hai."
Eager, excited and a bit giddy, Qazi believes in his talent and represents the young generation from small-town India.
"Right from the start, I wanted to be an actor. At 17, I had once danced in front of (former Kashmir chief minister) Farooq Abdullah and he had said I'm better than Hrithik Roshan. Can you believe it?" the aspirant says. "I'm quite uncertain about my future. I don't know whether I want to be a dancer, actor or a singer. Maybe I can be all three."
Singing came to Qazi by default. "I'm not trained to be a singer. I have an uncle who sings. But I never practised. When I'm suddenly facing millions of people, I find the need to sharpen my skills, to go beyond my limitations in singing. I realise my blind spots as a singer. But I'm a performer. I think people like the way I carry my hands, body and hair."
Confident to the point of seeming cocky, Qazi's mainstay on Fame Gurukul isn't his singing talent but the audiences' support. "They love me although the judges think I have a long way to go. If distinguished judges like Javed Akhtar find me lacking in talent, then I must not be up to the mark. However, I cannot disregard the audiences' love and support. I am blessed."