Mushtaq Khan, Actor and comedian, known for his memorable roles in Welcome and Gadar, dies at 56 after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind a four-decade career in Hindi cinema

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actor and comedian Mushtaq Khan, known for his memorable comic roles in films such as Welcome, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in Mumbai after a long battle with cancer. He was 56.

Khan died around 7 p.m. at Nanavati Hospital in suburban Mumbai, where he had been receiving treatment. His business partner Shivam Yadav and son Mohsin confirmed his death. Doctors diagnosed Khan with lung cancer around five years ago. He recovered after treatment, but the disease returned about eight days before his final hospital admission. Some reports also mentioned liver involvement. Doctors moved him to the ICU as his condition became more serious in his final days.

Khan continued working despite his health problems until shortly before his hospitalisation. His son Mohsin told PTI that the actor complained of stomach pain, after which the family took him to the hospital. Mohsin also said Khan had been shooting for the debut film of Salman Khan’s bodyguard Shera’s son shortly before his hospitalisation.

The family held Khan’s funeral on Friday, September 25, at Yari Road Kabristan in Andheri West, Mumbai. The family kept his body at their residence, Hamara Ghar in Model Town, Andheri West, for public viewing from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The funeral prayer followed Friday prayers.

Khan is survived by his wife, Salma Khan, and two sons, Mohammed Arshad Khan and Mohsin (also referred to as Mohshin) Khan. Arshad is married to teacher Saba Khan, while Mohsin has worked as a model. Family members and colleagues urged fans to remember Khan for his life, work and contribution to cinema rather than only mourn his death.

Early Life and Struggles in Mushtaq’s Life

Mushtaq Khan was born on December 31, 1969, in Baihar town in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district to a Muslim family. Mushtaq developed an interest in acting at a young age. He took part in school and college plays, mono-acting performances and other drama activities. He also enjoyed copying film dialogues and songs.

His teachers encouraged him to pursue acting beyond his small-town surroundings. His brother Mahfooz, also known as Barek Khan, supported his dream. He helped convince their family and arranged Khan’s travel to Mumbai. Khan moved to the city in the mid-to-late 1970s despite having limited money and resources. A relative’s contact and his determination helped him settle in Mumbai.

Khan faced several difficulties while trying to enter the film industry. He began with theatre and small acting roles. He later recalled that screenwriter Salim Khan watched him perform in a play, liked his work and recommended him to filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

Khan kept trying to meet Bhatt, who was then considered one of the industry’s leading directors. Since Khan did not have a telephone, he depended on a neighbourhood grocer to alert him about calls. He paid the grocer Re 1 for each message. His persistence eventually brought him opportunities.

His association with Mahesh Bhatt became an important turning point in his career. Mushtaq Khan appeared in films including Kabzaa (1988), Aashiqui (1990), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Sadak (1991), Sir and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993).

Khan also shared a personal story about Amitabh Bachchan’s help during his early years in Mumbai. Khan had recently married and was shooting with Bachchan, who was then a Congress MP from Allahabad. During their conversation, Khan mentioned a government CM quota scheme for artists.

Bachchan arranged a recommendation letter for him. The letter helped Khan get a flat in Kandivali under the scheme at a price far below the market rate. Khan kept that home for many years.

Mushtaq Khan’s Career: Films, TV and OTT

Khan began his film career with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai (1980), directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza. He played a small role alongside Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Khan appeared in hundreds of Hindi films. Different estimates put his film appearances at more than 300 and even above 500. He mainly played supporting and comic characters, including policemen, clerks, neighbours, relatives, servants and comic sidekicks.

Khan brought energy, expressive eyes, distinctive body language and sharp comic timing to his roles, even when he appeared on screen for only a few minutes.

His most iconic role came in Anees Bazmee’s 2007 blockbuster Welcome, which starred Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor. Khan played Ballu, a gangster’s associate who pretends to be a disabled former hockey player.

His dialogue, “Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bahut bada player hoon…”, became one of the most popular comic lines in Hindi cinema. Audiences continued to quote and share the scene years later. Khan returned with elements of the same character in Welcome Back (2015).

Khan also played Gul Khan, or Gullu, in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), opposite Sunny Deol. He returned to the role more than two decades later in Gadar 2 (2023).

His other notable films included Hera Pheri (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Wanted (2009), Oh My God! (2012), Rowdy Rathore (2012), Stree (2018) and Stree 2 (2024). He worked across different genres and alongside several generations of Bollywood actors.

Khan also worked extensively on television. His television credits included Wagle Ki Duniya, Chamatkar, Tedhe Medhe Sapne, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, Adaalat and Belan Wali Bahu, among others.

He played Baldev Tripathi in Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi. His performance in Tedhe Medhe Sapne earned him an Indian Telly Awards nomination for Best Actor in a Comic Role.

Khan also appeared in web series and OTT projects, including The Railway Men (2023). He received a Lions Gold Award in 2017 for a supporting role.

Colleagues often pointed out that Khan rarely received top billing or major awards despite his long and consistent career. However, they credited him with strengthening scenes and films through his reliability, professionalism and comic timing.

Khan continued working into 2025 and 2026 on projects including Jaat and other productions before his health deteriorated.

The 2024 Kidnapping Ordeal

In November 2024, Khan made headlines after a serious kidnapping incident. Someone invited him to an event in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and offered him an advance payment and flight tickets. After he arrived in Delhi on November 20, the kidnappers abducted him.

They took Khan to a location near Bijnor and held him captive for around 12 hours. They also tortured him and demanded a ransom that initially stood at ₹1 crore.

The kidnappers used Khan’s phone to take around ₹2–2.2 lakh from his and his son’s bank accounts.

Khan escaped early the next morning after he heard the azaan and realised that a mosque stood nearby. He reached out to local residents and a cleric, contacted his family and returned home safely.

Khan initially delayed filing a police complaint. He later approached the police after comedian Sunil Pal reported a similar abduction involving the same gang.

Uttar Pradesh Police registered cases and arrested several members of the gang. Police also arrested the alleged mastermind, Lavi Pal, also known as Rahul Saini, after an encounter and recovered money.

The gang had also targeted other actors, including Shakti Kapoor. The incident highlighted the risks that mid-level performers can face when they accept invitations to private events.

Industry Tributes Pour In

News of Khan’s death led to tributes from several people in the film industry. Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who directed Khan in Welcome, expressed shock over his death and remembered him as a remarkable artist and a kind person. Bazmee also recalled Khan as his “Balu” and prayed for his soul and family.

Actor Sanjay Mishra, who worked with Khan in Welcome, remembered him as a guardian figure during an important period of his life. Mishra said he often sought Khan’s advice whenever he needed guidance. He also said Khan was a talented artist who did not receive the level of recognition he deserved.

Mishra also remembered Khan showing him around Dubai during the shooting of Welcome.

Anupam Kher remembered working with Khan in films including Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Gumrah, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai and Jodi No.1. Kher recalled Khan’s calm personality and sense of humour and said he never saw him lose his temper.

Sunny Deol described Khan as a good human being and a fine actor and shared his memories of working with him.

Rajpal Yadav said he had visited Khan earlier that day, spoken to him and shaken his hand. He expressed shock over his sudden death.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, comedian Sunil Pal and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also paid tribute to Khan.

Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari confirmed Khan’s death and praised his acting ability and friendly nature.

A Lasting Legacy of Character and Comedy

Mushtaq Khan belonged to a generation of character actors and comedians who made supporting roles memorable. He worked alongside performers such as Kader Khan and Dinesh Hingoo and often played characters who added humour, depth or energy to a film without taking the main spotlight.

Audiences could quickly recognise Khan because of his distinctive acting style. His famous “Meri ek taang nakli hai” dialogue from Welcome continues to appear in memes, reels and everyday conversations.

Khan’s journey from a small-town youth in Madhya Pradesh to a familiar face in Bollywood took several decades. He faced the difficulties of entering the film industry, dealt with personal setbacks such as the 2024 kidnapping and continued working despite serious health problems.

Colleagues remembered not only his acting skills but also his kindness, willingness to guide younger actors and professional approach on film sets.

As the film industry and his fans bid farewell, Khan leaves behind a large body of work that continues to entertain audiences. His funeral on September 25 marked the final public goodbye, but characters such as Ballu from Welcome and Gul Khan from the Gadar films remain part of Hindi cinema.

Mushtaq Khan’s death marks the end of a long career for a hardworking supporting actor who made a strong impact through his comic timing, screen presence and dedication. His career also highlights the important role that character actors play in giving films memorable moments and supporting the stories beyond the lead stars.