Munawar Iqbal Faruqui (born 28 January 1992) is an Indian stand-up comedian, rapper and singer. In 2022, he won the reality TV show, Lock Upp 1.[5] In 2023, he participated in Bigg Boss 17 and emerged as the winner.
Munawar Faruqui | ||||||||||
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Birth name | Munawar Iqbal Faruqui | |||||||||
Born | [1] Junagadh, Gujarat, India[2] | 28 January 1992|||||||||
Medium | Stand-up comedy | |||||||||
Nationality | Indian | |||||||||
Years active | 2018–present | |||||||||
Genres | ||||||||||
Spouse |
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Children | 1 | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2018–present | |||||||||
Genre |
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Subscribers | 5.27 million[4] | |||||||||
Total views | 440 million[4] | |||||||||
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Last updated: 6 November 2024 |
Early life and education
Faruqui was born in Junagadh, Gujarat,[6][7] on 28 January 1992 into a Gujarati Muslim family.[8] His father lost the money and came under a huge debt.[9] Due to financial constraints, he left school after the 5th class.[10] He started to work to make the ends meet. Still a child, he worked at a gift shop and later joined his mother & grandmother in making and selling samosas and chaklis.[9] His mother committed suicide when he was 14 years old. After his mother's death, he relocated to Mumbai at his aunt's request.[9][11] He started to do some odd jobs in Mumbai.[12] In 2020, his father passed away, after being paralysed.[12]
Career
In April 2020, he uploaded a standup comedy video named "Dawood, Yamraaj & Aurat" on his YouTube channel.[13] He released his debut song "Jawab" in collaboration with Indian musician Spectra in August 2020.
On 28 February 2021, he uploaded a standup comedy video named "Ghost Story" on his YouTube Channel.[14]
In 2022, he became a contestant on Balaji Telefilms' reality television show Lock Upp, hosted by Kangana Ranaut.[15][16] On 8 May 2022, he was declared the show's winner.[17] The show was streamed on OTT platforms ALTBalaji and MX Player.[18]
In 2023, he became a contestant on the reality TV show Bigg Boss 17, hosted by Salman Khan. On 28 January 2024, he was declared the show's winner.[19]
Personal life
Faruqui married Jasmine[20][21] in 2017 but the marriage ended in divorce in 2022. The ex-couple has a five-year-old son.[22]
In December 2021, he started dating social media influencer Nazila Sitaishi.[7][23][24][25] In Bigg Boss 17, Ayesha Khan accused him of two-timing her and Sitaishi and being involved with multiple women.[26][27] Subsequently, on 18 December 2023, Sitaishi broke up with him on Instagram live, accusing him of cheating.[28][29] In May 2024, he married Mehzabeen Coatwala, a makeup artist.[30][31]
Controversy
Munawar Faruqui was on his tour performing stand up comedy in different cities of India. On 1 January 2021, he performed a stand-up show at Munro Cafe in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, which was interrupted by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of BJP MLA Malini Gaur[32] accusing him of making malicious jokes about Hindu deities and the Minister of Home Affairs of India, Amit Shah.[33] On 2 January, he was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police in the midst of his comic act, stating that he was arrested under the Hate speech laws in India.[34] The police, despite having no evidence against Munawar, still arrested him.[35]
His arrest was heavily criticised for not respecting a comedian's freedom of speech, including by a joint initiative of the global Indian diaspora on 2 February 2021, that said a group of South Asian American stand-up comedians will perform a virtual comedy show on 6 February 2021 to show their solidarity with the jailed Faruqui.[36] He was subsequently granted bail by the Supreme Court of India.[37] He spent 37 days in jail.[12]
On 26 March 2024, he was detained by Mumbai police during a raid at an illegal Hookah Bar in Mumbai. He was later released on bail as offence was bailable.[38][39]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala | Roast Comic | ||
2022 | Lock Upp 1 | Contestant | Winner | [40] |
2023–2024 | Bigg Boss 17 | [41] |
Special appearances
Year | Show | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Suhaagan: Ke Rang Jashn Ke Rang | Himself | Holi Celebration | [42] |
Dance Deewane 4 | ||||
Madness Machayenge – India Ko Hasayenge | ||||
Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 | To interact with housemates and conduct a task. | |||
Star Vs Food Survival | Munawar joins chef Ranveer Brar in the new episode of Star vs Food Survival Season 2 | [43] |
Music videos
Year | Title | Singer(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | "Halki Si Barsaat" | Saaj Bhatt | Featuring; Nazila Sitaishi | |
2022 | "Ik Tu Hi" | Rito Riba | Featuring; Oviya Darnal | |
2024 | "Halki Halki Si" | Asees Kaur, Saaj Bhatt | Featuring; Hina Khan | [44] |
Discography
Year | Track | Co-artist | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | "Jawab" | Spectra | [45] | |
"Nagpada Ka Rider" | Spectra | [46][47] | ||
2021 | "Aazmaish" | Nazz | [8][48] | |
"Dus Lakh" | Spectra | [49][citation needed] | ||
"Hunarat" | [50][51] | |||
"Khawab" | DRJ Sohail | [52] | ||
2022 | "Kalandar" | Farhan Khan | [53] | |
"Khamoshi" | Farhan Khan | [54] | ||
"Todh" | Prince Narula | [49] | ||
"Kaamil" | [49] | |||
2023 | "Alag BT" | Hitzone | From his first Album: "Madari" | |
"Noor" | [55] | |||
"Madari" | Farhan Khan, Charan | [56] | ||
"Mumtaz" | ||||
"Kajal" | ||||
"Tu Lage Mujhe" | ||||
"KOD" | ||||
"Malaal" | ft.Rashmeet Kaur | |||
"Legacy" | Ganesh Acharya | |||
"Maula" | Kshmr | [57] | ||
2024 | "Dhandho" | Spectra | ||
"Dark Circles" | [58] |
References
- ^ "Working in a utensil store for Rs 60 per day, doing odd jobs to make ends meet; lesser known facts of Lock Upp contestant Munawar Faruqui". The Times of India. 12 March 2022.
- ^ "It's impossible to do stand-up comedy without offending anyone: Munawar". Times Of India. 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui says he'll meet his son soon, days after revealing about his wedding & kid on Lock Upp". Indiatvnews. 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "About Munawar Faruqui". YouTube.
- ^ ANI (8 May 2022). "Munawar Faruqui declared winner of Kangana Ranaut's reality show 'Lock Upp'". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Who is Munawar Faruqui? Why was he arrested?". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Everything you need to know about Munawar Faruqi". The Indian Express. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ a b Nainar, Nahla (2 June 2021). "Laughter challenger: Munawar Faruqui finds humour in life against all odds". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "Munawar Faruqui reveals he sold samosas after father 'lost all his money': He was under massive debt". Hindustan Times. HT Entertainment Desk. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui reveals he has studied only till 5th standard, know KhanZaadi's educational qualification". OTTPlay. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui reveals he didn't know his ex-wife got married when his son had come home for 15 days; says "I called Mikhail's nana to know if it was true, she moved to another city"". The Times of India. 12 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Lock Upp Winner Munawar Faruqui Opens Up On His Childhood, 37 Days In Jail And His Father's Demise; "I Had To Borrow Rs 30,000 To Take My Father's Mortal Remains To Our Village"". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "10 Best Munawar Faruqui Stand Up Comedy Videos". Stand Up Comedy. 3 February 2022.
- ^ Scroll Staff (March 2021). "Watch: Comedian Munawar Faruqui's ghost story entertains viewers in this new stand-up video". Scroll.in.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui's Latest 'Collab' Is With Kangana Ranaut For Her Reality Show Lock Upp!". Koimoi. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Comedian Munawar Faruqui is the second contestant in Kangana Ranaut's reality show 'Lock Upp". Bollywood Hungama. 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui wins Lock Upp season 1, Payal Rohatgi is first runner-up". Hindustan Times. 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Lock Upp: Where, when and..." The Times of India. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui lifts Bigg Boss 17 trophy, thanks 'bade bhai' Salman Khan". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Sagar, Aditya (24 October 2023). "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui Reveals His Ex-wife Married Again, Breaks Down Remembering Son". indiatimes.com. TIMES INTERNET LIMITED. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ Ranjit, Abhishek. "Bigg Boss 17: Who's The Dimple Girl In Munawar Faruqui's Life? Did Ayesha Khan Take Anjali Arora's Name?". filmibeat.com. Oneindia (Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.). Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui confesses to Mannara Chopra that his ex-wife got married and he is living with his 5-year-old son; says "I got so close to him that there is no limit to that affection"". The Times of India. 31 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Lock Upp Winner: Munawar Faruqui wins Kangana Ranaut's show H". The Indian Express. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui cries inconsolably as he misses his son; says, "pure din me sochta hu ki vo kya kar raha hoga"". The Times of India. 23 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui CRIES While Missing His Son; Says 'Mujhe Uski Bahut Yaad Aa Rahi Hai'". TimesNow. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui breaks down as Ayesha Khan accuses him of being involved with multiple women: 'If Bigg Boss opens the door, I will walk out'". The Indian Express. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Ayesha Khan: Munawar broke my trust, lied to me about his girlfriend | Exclusive". India Today. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "'BB 17': Munawar Faruqui's ex Nazila claims he cheated on her with many girls". India Today. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss 17: 'Whatever Munawar said is untrue...', girlfriend Nazila reveals| Watch". www.indiatvnews.com. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Watch: Munawar Faruqui, wife Mehzabeen Coatwala enjoy romantic dinner in Dubai". India Today. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui Kisses 2nd Wife Mehzabeen After Khanzaadi's Shocking Comment About Their Marriage | Watch". News18. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Eklavya Singh Gaur, The Complainant In Munawar Faruqui Case, May Make A Political Career Out Of It". Outlook India. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Why comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested: A timeline". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Iyer, Aishwarya S. (22 January 2021). "Hardworking, Kind, A Friend: Munawar Faruqui Beyond The Headlines". TheQuint. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ thewire staff. "Police Say No Evidence Against Munawar Faruqui, Yet Press for Bail Plea Rejection". The Wire. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "South Asian American stand-up comedians to perform in support of Munawar Faruqui". Scroll.in. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui released on bail after late-night call from top court judge". The Indian Express. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui Detained During Raid At Mumbai Hookah Bar, Released Later". NDTV.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "'Bigg Boss 17' winner Munawar Faruqui arrested after a raid at Mumbai hookah-bar". The Economic Times. 27 March 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui wins Lock Upp season 1, Payal Rohatgi is first runner-up". Hindustan Times. 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui lifts Bigg Boss 17 trophy, thanks 'bade bhai' Salman Khan". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui, Tanvi Dogra And Others Join Suhaagan Cast To Celebrate Holi". The Times of India. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ MBDesk (12 November 2024). "Munawar Faruqui tackles the jungle with Ranveer Brar in episode 3 of 'Star vs Food Survival S2'". MediaBrief. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Cyril, Grace (23 February 2024). "Halki Halki Si Out: Hina Khan Wooes Munawar Faruqui In This Melodious Love Story". TimesNow. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "Jawab Lyrics - Munawar Faruqui".
- ^ Nagpada Ka Rider, 6 December 2020, retrieved 5 June 2021
- ^ "We Spoke with the Indian Comedian Who Was Arrested for Jokes He Didn't Crack". VICE. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Aazmaish by Munawar Faruqui Lyrics | Insane Lyrics". 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Kaamil | Munawar | Prod by Shawie | Official Music Video | 2022, retrieved 20 August 2022
- ^ "Hunarat". Spotify. 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Munawar - Hunarat (Official Music Video) Prod By DRJ Sohail". YouTube.
- ^ "Khwahish - Lyrics : Munawar Faruqui - AsliHipHop". 18 November 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Kalandar Lyrics – Munawar Faruqui x Farhan Khan". LyricsWrite. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "khamoshi". Shazam.
- ^ "Video Alert! You Cannot Afford To Miss Munawar Faruqui's Newest Romantic Number 'Noor'". www.filmibeat.com. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Munawar Faruqui pays tribute to late actor Irrfan Khan through 'Madari'". The Times of India. 10 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ Maula, 3 November 2023, retrieved 15 November 2024
- ^ Dark Circles (feat. DRJ Sohail), 30 September 2024, retrieved 15 November 2024