Munawar Faruqui

Munawar Faruqui
Faruqui in 2024
Born
Munawar Faruqui

(1991-01-28) 28 January 1991[1]
Junagadh, Gujarat, India[2]
Spouse
  • Jasmine
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2017; div. 2022)​
    [3]
    Mehzabeen Coatwala
    ​
    (m. 2024)​
Comedy career
Years active2018–present
Mediumcomedy
Genres
Munawar Faruqui
YouTube information
Channel
Genres
  • Comedy
  • Hip-hop
Subscribers5.3 million
Views495 million
Last updated: 15 May 2026

Munawar Faruqui (born 28 January 1991) is an Indian comedian, rapper and singer. In 2022, he won the reality TV show Lock Upp 1.[4] In 2023, he participated in Bigg Boss 17 and emerged as the winner.

Early life and education

Faruqui was born in Junagadh, Gujarat,[5][6] on 28 January 1991 into a Gujarati Muslim family.[7] His father lost the money and came under a huge debt.[8] Due to financial constraints, he left school after the 5th class.[9] He started to work to make the ends meet. Still a child, he worked at a gift shop and later joined his mother and grandmother in making and selling samosas and chaklis.[8] His mother committed suicide when he was 14 years old. After his mother's death, he relocated to Mumbai at his aunt's request.[8][10] He started to do some odd jobs in Mumbai.[11] In 2020, his father died, after being paralysed.[11]

Career

In April 2020, he uploaded a standup comedy video named "Dawood, Yamraaj & Aurat" on his YouTube channel.[12] 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.[13]

In 2022, he became a contestant on Balaji Telefilms' reality television show Lock Upp, hosted by Kangana Ranaut.[14][15] On 8 May 2022, he was declared the show's winner.[16] The show was streamed on OTT platforms ALTBalaji and MX Player.[17]

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.[18] He participated in the first season of Entertainers Cricket League (ECL).[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.[6][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]

His arrest was criticised by some people, including a small group of global Indian diaspora on 2 February 2021, who announced that a group of South Asian Americans stand-up comedians will perform a virtual comedy show on 6 February 2021 to show their solidarity to the jailed Faruqui.[35] He was subsequently granted bail (not acquitted) by the Supreme Court of India.[36] He spent 37 days in jail.[11]

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.[37][38]

Filmography

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2025 First Copy Arif Season 1 and 2
TBA Angadia TBA

Television

List of television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala Roast Comic
2022 Lock Upp 1 Contestant Winner [16]
2023–2024 Bigg Boss 17 [18]
2025 Hafta Vasooli Host
Pati Patni Aur Panga – Jodiyon Ka Reality Check [39]
The Society Season 1 and 2
2026 India's Got Latent Guest judge [40]
The Traitors India season 2 Contestant Season 2 [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

List of music video credits
Year Title Singer(s) Notes Ref.
2021 ‘’Dus Lakh’’ Munawar Faruqui Directed by Shubham Dolas [44]
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 [45]
2025 "Hawa Banke" Rito Riba Featuring; Kinza Hashmi

Discography

Year Track Co-artist Notes Ref.
2020 "Jawab" Spectra [46]
"Nagpada Ka Rider" [47][48]
2021 "Aazmaish" Nazz [7][49]
"Dus Lakh" Spectra [50]
"Hunarat" [51][52]
"Khawab" DRJ Sohail [53]
2022 "Kalandar" Farhan Khan [54]
"Khamoshi" [55]
"Todh" Prince Narula [50]
"Kaamil" [50]
2023 "Alag BT" Hitzone From his debut album Madari
"Noor" [56]
"Madari" Farhan Khan, Charan [57]
"Mumtaz"
"Kajal"
"Tu Lage Mujhe"
"KOD"
"Malaal" ft. Rashmeet Kaur
"Legacy" Ganesh Acharya
"Maula" Kshmr From KSHMR's sophomore album, Karam [58]
"Pyar ki Bahaar" ft. Rashmeet Kaur
2024 "Dhandho" Spectra
"Kuch Yaadein" Suyyash Rai
"Dark Circles" DRJ Sohail [59]
"SuppaMario" Aniket
"Wolf" Raga

References

  1. ↑ "Munawar on Bigg Boss, Marriage, Childhood & Parents". Youtube. 29 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "It's impossible to do stand-up comedy without offending anyone: Munawar". Times Of India. 12 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui says he'll meet his son soon, days after revealing about his wedding & kid on Lock Upp". Indiatvnews. 13 May 2022.
  4. ↑ ANI (8 May 2022). "Munawar Faruqui declared winner of Kangana Ranaut's reality show 'Lock Upp'". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Who is Munawar Faruqui? Why was he arrested?". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Everything you need to know about Munawar Faruqi". The Indian Express. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. 1 2 3 "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.
  9. ↑ "Bigg Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui reveals he has studied only till 5th standard, know KhanZaadi's educational qualification". OTTPlay. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. 1 2 3 "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.
  12. ↑ "10 Best Munawar Faruqui Stand Up Comedy Videos". Stand Up Comedy. 3 February 2022.
  13. ↑ Scroll Staff (March 2021). "Watch: Comedian Munawar Faruqui's ghost story entertains viewers in this new stand-up video". Scroll.in.
  14. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui's Latest 'Collab' Is With Kangana Ranaut For Her Reality Show Lock Upp!". Koimoi. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Comedian Munawar Faruqui is the second contestant in Kangana Ranaut's reality show 'Lock Upp". Bollywood Hungama. 22 February 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Munawar Faruqui wins Lock Upp season 1, Payal Rohatgi is first runner-up". Hindustan Times. 8 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Lock Upp: Where, when and..." The Times of India. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Munawar Faruqui lifts Bigg Boss 17 trophy, thanks 'bade bhai' Salman Khan". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "Entertainer's Cricket League targets 100 Crore valuation in first season". AdGully. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ "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.
  23. ↑ "Lock Upp Winner: Munawar Faruqui wins Kangana Ranaut's show H". The Indian Express. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "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.
  26. ↑ "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.
  27. ↑ "Ayesha Khan: Munawar broke my trust, lied to me about his girlfriend | Exclusive". India Today. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "'BB 17': Munawar Faruqui's ex Nazila claims he cheated on her with many girls". India Today. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Bigg Boss 17: 'Whatever Munawar said is untrue...', girlfriend Nazila reveals| Watch". www.indiatvnews.com. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Watch: Munawar Faruqui, wife Mehzabeen Coatwala enjoy romantic dinner in Dubai". India Today. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui Kisses 2nd Wife Mehzabeen After Khanzaadi's Shocking Comment About Their Marriage | Watch". News18. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Eklavya Singh Gaur, The Complainant In Munawar Faruqui Case, May Make A Political Career Out Of It". Outlook India. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  33. ↑ "Why comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested: A timeline". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  34. ↑ Iyer, Aishwarya S. (22 January 2021). "Hardworking, Kind, A Friend: Munawar Faruqui Beyond The Headlines". TheQuint. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  35. ↑ "South Asian American stand-up comedians to perform in support of Munawar Faruqui". Scroll.in. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  36. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui released on bail after late-night call from top court judge". The Indian Express. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui Detained During Raid At Mumbai Hookah Bar, Released Later". NDTV.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  38. ↑ "'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.
  39. ↑ "Pati Patni Aur Panga: Munawar Faruqui to co-host the show with Sonali Bendre; says 'We are here to explore the real, relatable side of relationships with a bit of fun'". The Times of India. 9 July 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  40. ↑ "Raghav Juyal, Munawar Faruqui's Latent episode leaked? Here's the truth". India Today. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  41. ↑ "The Traitors Season 2: Karan Johar reveals release date, first two contestants". India Today. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "Munawar Faruqui, Tanvi Dogra And Others Join Suhaagan Cast To Celebrate Holi". The Times of India. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  43. ↑ 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.
  44. ↑ "Dus lakh".
  45. ↑ Cyril, Grace (23 February 2024). "Halki Halki Si Out: Hina Khan Wooes Munawar Faruqui In This Melodious Love Story". TimesNow. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  46. ↑ "Jawab Lyrics – Munawar Faruqui".
  47. ↑ Nagpada Ka Rider, 6 December 2020, retrieved 5 June 2021
  48. ↑ "We Spoke with the Indian Comedian Who Was Arrested for Jokes He Didn't Crack". VICE. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  49. ↑ "Aazmaish by Munawar Faruqui Lyrics | Insane Lyrics". 23 March 2021.
  50. 1 2 3 Kaamil | Munawar | Prod by Shawie | Official Music Video | 2022, retrieved 20 August 2022
  51. ↑ "Hunarat". Spotify. 28 July 2021.
  52. ↑ "Munawar – Hunarat (Official Music Video) Prod By DRJ Sohail". YouTube.
  53. ↑ "Khwahish – Lyrics : Munawar Faruqui – AsliHipHop". 18 November 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  54. ↑ "Kalandar Lyrics – Munawar Faruqui x Farhan Khan". LyricsWrite. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  55. ↑ "khamoshi". Shazam.
  56. ↑ "Video Alert! You Cannot Afford To Miss Munawar Faruqui's Newest Romantic Number 'Noor'". www.filmibeat.com. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  57. ↑ "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.
  58. ↑ Maula, 3 November 2023, retrieved 15 November 2024
  59. ↑ Dark Circles (feat. DRJ Sohail), 30 September 2024, retrieved 15 November 2024
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