Khoshgadam Bakhshaliyeva: The Road to Fame and the Salvation of Human Fates

Khoshgadam Bakhshaliyeva is a television host who can make you laugh, cry, and hold your breath — as if you were standing right there in the middle of the show yourself.
 Her return to television after the death of her mother wasn’t just another media event — it became an emotional moment that shook an entire nation.

Appearing live for the first time on “Səni axtarıram” (“I Am Looking for You”) after her mother’s passing, Khoshgadam spoke with deep honesty:

“Even after her surgery, the first thing my mother did was turn on the television and pray for me. Today I am here alone, and my wings are broken.”

In that instant, the TV screen stopped being just a screen — it became a window into the human soul. She urged everyone to cherish their mothers, reminding viewers that no force in the world can replace a mother’s love. Her words became a true lesson in humanity.

Yet her story is about much more than emotion. The true magic unfolds in the program “Səni axtarıram” (“I Am Looking for You”), a show that for many years has helped Azerbaijanis reunite with relatives who had gone missing. Khoshgadam never limited herself to the studio — she personally traveled abroad: Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, and several other countries.

One story reveals her courage vividly: during a trip to Syria, amid the civil war, she was injured and spent a month recovering in a Syrian hospital. The program’s broadcast was suspended for that time, but she came back stronger than ever, proving that for her, there are no borders when it comes to finding people and changing lives.

Each episode of “Səni axtarıram” (“I Am Looking for You”)  is a separate human drama. In one story, a brother and sister were searching for their father, who had gone to work in Kazan and disappeared. Khoshgadam personally went to the morgue with a photograph, identified the man, and delivered the devastating news to his family: their father had died of a heart attack at a bus stop. The studio fell silent. For the first time in years, the host couldn’t hold back her tears — the grief and sobbing of the family were broadcast live. Moments like these prove that for her, television is not just a job — it’s a calling.

Over the six years of the program’s existence, more than 20,000 people have been found. Many participants also reached out to the Russian program “Жди меня” (“Wait for Me”) at the same time. After the temporary closure of the project, her marriage, and her move to Turkey, Khoshgadam launched a new show, “Deməsək olmaz” (“It Must Be Said”), on ANS TV. However, she later handed over the host’s seat to another presenter.

The closure of “I Am Looking for You” sparked a wave of outrage: Azerbaijani citizens were furious, and the president’s approval rating briefly dropped to 22%. Few would have believed that a simple TV program could become so significant in people’s lives — but for Khoshgadam, this was never just a show. It was a mission.

A year later, the program returned to air on Khazar TV, with Khoshgadam once again as its host. The familiar musical intro, remembered from its days on Azad Azerbaijan and ANS TV, came back with her. Today, “Səni Axtarıram” airs daily on ARB TV, helping people find their missing loved ones even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, criticism exists — and sometimes it’s harsh. There’s too much advertising, certain stories repeat, the host occasionally heightens the drama on purpose, arguments break out in the studio, and — according to rumors — appearing on the show without paying is nearly impossible. Yet all of this pales in comparison to what Khoshgadam achieves: she saves human destinies — with heart, courage, and soul.

Still, her television career is only one part of her personality. Off-screen, Khoshgadam remains as genuine as ever. She communicates easily with people, takes sincere interest in their stories, and doesn’t hide behind a “celebrity” façade. And that authenticity is exactly what makes her so magnetic to viewers — she’s real, unfiltered, emotional, and warm-hearted.

Behind her success and on-screen charisma lies immense strength and dedication. She travels, investigates, worries about every person in trouble, and often fights back tears herself. Her work on “Səni axtarıram” (“I Am Looking for You”) is more than television — it’s a humanitarian mission. She personally meets with families, identifies missing persons, comforts relatives, and sometimes breaks down on air. That is the true power of a television host — to make the screen feel alive and human.

And now, years later, Khoshgadam is back on air once again. Every broadcast is an event; every episode of “Səni axtarıram” (“I Am Looking for You”) is a chance for someone to find a loved one.

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