'I'm a performer, not a singer'

Fame Gurukul winner Qazi Touqeer on his film debut, interviewed by Roshmila Bhattacharya.

You were supposedly flooded with film offers after Fame Gurukul. Why did you want to take off with Take Off?
The film has all that a hero needs to show off his versatility.. romance, song and dance and plenty of action. Fight masters Kaushal and Moses, who have choreographed some of the action scenes of Baazigar, Baadshah and Soldier, are directing the film.

No plans to cut your Samson locks?
Arrey nahin, my hair's still long. I'm the way I am but for the last couple of months. I've been working out for almost two hours daily and am in very good shape.

So we'll see another set of six-pack abs?
There's nothing new about sixpack abs now. I've always wanted to be muscular.. like Salman Khan. Already people are calling me Rambo. I'll make a desi Rambo some day inshallah. Sylvester Stallone has been my childhood idol.

Wasn't Salman Khan your idol?
I like all the Khans. Some day I want to be up there too. I had that ‘X' factor to win the Fame Gurukul title. It should take me far. Every time I look into the mirror, I see a superstar.

You were almost voted out of the show ten times, right?
Yeah, that's a record. But every time the public votes saved me. Raja Hassan was the hot favourite of Sa Re Ga Ma Challenge 2007 but he didn't win. I may have been voted out ten times but I won.

You've come out with just one album in the two years since your debut, Yeh Pal. One has hardly heard of you.
I'm just a mediocre singer. I entered Fame Gurukul because I thought it would get me film offers. I learnt singing while on the show and won the title. But then I consciously stayed out of the limelight because I was too thin.. immature. I worked on my body. I'm a performer, not a singer.

So, no more albums?
I want to sing for myself now. You'll hear me in the film. We've already recorded one song.

How was the first day's shoot?
I had scenes with Prem Chopra sahab but I wasn't nervous. I've been acting on stage since I was six and because of my theatre experience, my confidence was high. I'm never nervous. (Laughs) You remember how I told Mandira Bedi she looked gorgeous on Fame Gurukul?

How many girls have you said that to since?
I'm okay romancing my co-star Meghna for the camera. A complete actor has to be comfortable doing everything. But I don't want to get distracted by a girlfriend at this stage. Raat ko phone karo.. din ko bhi. Even now girls call home all the time.

Any other movies?
There's another film with Nazim Rizvi after Take Off.

What about TV?
Right now my focus is the big screen but even Shah Rukh Khan came on reality shows to promote OSO. Maybe I will too.. to promote Take Off.

You want to be back on Fame Gurukul?
Fame Gurukul turned to Fame X in its second season thanks to me. But it wasn't as big a draw. Now there are such reality shows on every channel. The singers who once criticised us are now judging us.

Have you been to Kashmir since your big win?
I made a promise.. that I'd come back as a hero.. so I'm waiting for my film to release. My people have suffered a lot though ab halaat theek hai. I want to bring a smile to their faces with my success.