From Gujarat riots to Big Boss 17: Munawar Faruqui wins Indian reality show

Indian stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui emerged victorious in the reality show Bigg Boss 17, with results unveiled on Sunday night by the show's host, Salman Khan.

As a winner, Munawar received a car, 5 million Indian rupees and a trophy as part of his prize. Abhishek Kumar secured the second position in the competition.

The other three contestants in the top five fianlists included, Ankita Lokhande, Mannara Chopra and Arun Mashetty.

Munawar achieved this triumph on his birthday, celebrated on January 28. 

Throughout his more than three-month stint on Bigg Boss, the comedian shared aspects of his personal life.

The show took an interesting turn with the entrance of actor and social media influencer Ayesha Khan as a wild card contestant. Unfortunately, Ayesha's arrival dealt a blow to Munawar's reputation, as she levied serious allegations against him. 

Struggling to address Ayesha's claims of a relationship, Munawar faced challenges in clarifying the situation.

Munawar Farooqui and his family are one of the victims of the Gujarat riots, who experienced the destruction of their house during the 2002 unrest triggered by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

He also encountered severe prejudice in India. In 2021, he found himself behind bars for a month on charges of allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus during a stand-up comedy show.

Expressing his gratitude on 'X,' he thanked his followers for their unwavering support.

Bohot Bohot Shukriya Janta ❤️
Aapke pyaar aur support ke liye Aakhir kar Trophy Dongri aa hi gayi 🏆❤️ #munawarkijanta aur #munawarkewarrior ko mera dil se shukriya ❤️ #mkjw pic.twitter.com/XPrix3B2do

— munawar faruqui (@munawar0018) January 28, 2024