Bigg Boss 20: Qazi Touqeer empathises with women after discomfort with Manish Goel's touch
Synopsis
A Bigg Boss 20 role-play activity in which Qazi Touqeer dressed as a bride and Manish Goel played his groom unexpectedly sparked one of the season's more candid conversations — Touqeer said the brief discomfort he felt gave him a visceral understanding of the harassment women navigate every day, and called for strong, direct retaliation against street harassers.
Key Takeaways
Qazi Touqeer was dressed in a lehenga-choli and bridal styling for a Bigg Boss 20 in-house role-play task.
Manish Goel , playing the groom, held, twirled, and hugged Touqeer during the act; Touqeer later told him the contact felt uncomfortable.
Touqeer said the brief experience gave him insight into the daily harassment women face, citing bikers who tease women on roads as an example.
He called for women to respond forcefully — 'slap such men with slippers' — when subjected to whistling or inappropriate behaviour.
Manish maintained the interaction was purely performative, that he knew Touqeer was a man, and that no discomfort was intended.
Bigg Boss 20 contestant and singer Qazi Touqeer has spoken out about a moment inside the BB house that prompted him to reflect on the everyday harassment women endure in public spaces. The incident occurred during a role-play activity in which Touqeer was dressed as a bride, and fellow contestant Manish Goel played his groom.
What Happened During the Activity
As part of the Bigg Boss 20 in-house task, Qazi Touqeer was styled in a lehenga-choli, complete with bridal makeup, while Manish Goel was cast as the groom. Staying in character, Manish held Touqeer, twirled him, and hugged him during the role-play sequence. After the activity concluded, Touqeer told Manish that he had felt uncomfortable with the physical contact.
Qazi Touqeer's Reaction and Reflection
Recounting the experience in conversation with fellow housemate Yung, Touqeer said the brief time he spent in women's attire was enough to give him a glimpse of what women face daily. 'Women have to go through so much in this society. I became a woman just for a few minutes. Just think, what a woman must be going through when bikers come on the road and tease them,' he said.
He went further, calling for a strong response to street harassment. 'Women should slap such men with slippers. They should be slapped directly. They should be thrown in the sea. Directly, if someone whistles or does something, just hit them,' Touqeer said.
Manish Goel's Response
Manish, reportedly surprised by Touqeer's reaction, appeared visibly taken aback and maintained that he was fully aware his co-contestant was a man. He stressed that the physical contact was entirely in keeping with the brief given for the act, and that there was no intention to cause discomfort. Manish also reiterated that he holds deep respect for women.
Why the Moment Resonated
The exchange sparked a wider conversation inside the Bigg Boss 20 house about gender-based harassment in public spaces. Notably, the incident illustrates how reality television formats can occasionally surface genuine social commentary — however briefly. This comes amid broader national conversations about women's safety, street harassment, and bystander accountability in India.
How the episode and its aftermath are edited and presented when the episode airs will likely determine the audience response and the narrative both contestants carry going forward in the season.
Point of View
While well-intentioned, also underscore a persistent gap — the conversation about street harassment remains reactive rather than structural inside popular culture formats. Reality television's willingness to let these moments breathe, rather than edit them out for entertainment value, will determine whether Bigg Boss 20 adds something meaningful to this discourse or simply generates a news cycle.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened between Qazi Touqeer and Manish Goel in Bigg Boss 20?
During a Bigg Boss 20 activity, Qazi Touqeer was dressed as a bride and Manish Goel played his groom. Manish held, twirled, and hugged Touqeer as part of the role-play; afterwards, Touqeer told Manish he had felt uncomfortable with the physical contact.
What did Qazi Touqeer say about women's harassment?
Touqeer said that spending just a few minutes in women's attire helped him understand the harassment women face daily, particularly from bikers on roads. He called on women to respond forcefully to street harassment, saying they should 'slap such men with slippers' and not tolerate whistling or unwanted behaviour.
How did Manish Goel respond to Qazi Touqeer's discomfort?
Manish appeared surprised and maintained that he was aware Touqeer was a man, stressing that all physical contact was part of the instructed role-play with no intention to cause discomfort. He also reiterated his respect for women.
Why does this Bigg Boss 20 moment matter beyond the show?
The exchange briefly surfaced a genuine social issue — gender-based street harassment — within a mainstream entertainment format. It reflects a wider national conversation in India about women's safety and bystander accountability in public spaces.
Who is Qazi Touqeer?
Qazi Touqeer is an Indian singer and a contestant on the current season of Bigg Boss 20, the popular reality television show airing in India.
