Mushtaq Khan dies in Mumbai; veteran actor known for Welcome

Veteran Hindi film and television actor Mushtaq Khan has died in Mumbai after a career that stretched across more than four decades. Bollywood Hungama reported that the actor and comedian was 56, while his son Mohsin said Khan died at Nanavati hospital after being diagnosed with cancer.

Known for a long run of supporting and comic roles in Hindi cinema, Khan appeared in films ranging from Aashiqui and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke to Hera Pheri, Welcome, Gadar 2 and Stree 2. His funeral will take place on Friday at the Yari Road Kabristan.

• Death: Mushtaq Khan died in Mumbai after being treated at Nanavati hospital.
• Career: He made his screen debut with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980 and worked for more than four decades.
• Best-known role: He played Ballu, a disabled hockey player, in Anees Bazmee's Welcome in 2007.
• Recent work: His films included Gadar 2, Stree 2, Baby John and Jaat.
• Funeral: The funeral will be held on Friday at the Yari Road Kabristan.

Mushtaq Khan's son says cancer was discovered after stomach pain

Mohsin confirmed his father's death to PTI and said the illness had been discovered after Khan complained of stomach pain. He said: "He passed away due to cancer at Nanavati hospital at around 7 pm. He had complained of stomach pain, so we took him to the hospital where doctors discovered that he has cancer. His health worsened in the last few days. He was perfectly fine, he had no major issues, rather he was shooting for the debut film of Shera's (Salman Khan's bodyguard) son prior to his hospitalisation."

Mohsin said Khan had been shooting for the debut film of Shera's son before his hospitalisation. BN Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, also confirmed the news to Screen. Tiwari told the publication: "He passed away less than an hour ago. He was sick since many days. I am trying to get in touch with his family."

Ashoke Pandit remembers a friend from theatre and television

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit recalled a friendship with Khan that went back through theatre, plays and television work. "Mushtaq and I were very old friends. We did theatre, plays and TV shows together. He was like a part of our family and was very close to me. His loss is unbelievable. He was an example for the industry - coming to Mumbai from a small town, studying theatre, being passionate about his craft and being a very good human being. It's a loss to the industry and a personal loss to me."

Pandit also spoke about the difficult early years they had shared and Khan's work as a stage performer. "We were both groomed together. We grew up together like brothers. Despite the scarcity of money, we lived through difficult times together. It's the loss of a dear friend, a brother, and an actor who mastered the art of performance. He was brilliant on stage. We lost Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, and now Mushtaq. One after the other, it is becoming really difficult to face these kinds of losses."

Khan was born in Baihar town in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district. Pandit's tribute placed particular emphasis on Khan's journey from a small town to Mumbai, his study of theatre and the passion for performance that remained central to his professional life.

Mushtaq Khan built a four-decade career across Hindi films

Khan made his screen debut in Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980. Over the decades that followed, he became a familiar presence in Hindi films. The Week and The Hollywood Reporter India were among the outlets reporting on his death and his career spanning more than four decades.

His credits included Aashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Raja, Hera Pheri, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Jodi No. 1, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Welcome, Wanted and Oh My God!.

Film	Year	Role or note
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai	1980	Screen debut
Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke	1993	Film appearance
Jodi No. 1	2001	Film appearance
Welcome	2007	Played Ballu, a disabled hockey player
Aashiqui		Film appearance
Hera Pheri		Film appearance
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha		Film appearance
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi		Film appearance
Wanted		Film appearance
Oh My God!		Film appearance
Gadar 2		More recent work
Stree 2		More recent work

Welcome's Ballu role became one of his most remembered performances

Among Khan's many screen appearances, his performance as Ballu in Anees Bazmee's Welcome became his best-remembered. The 2007 film featured an ensemble cast that included Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Paresh Rawal, with Khan appearing as a disabled hockey player.

A comic monologue in which Ballu explains that he has a fake leg after being injured by Uday Bhai became one of the film's most quoted sequences. The line was: "Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bahut bada player hoon."

The Indian Express also reported that Khan had said he was underpaid for Welcome, earning less than Akshay Kumar's staff. The comment became part of the discussion around a performance that stood out within Khan's much wider body of film and television work.

Recent films included Stree 2, Gadar 2, Baby John and Jaat

Khan continued appearing in Hindi films in more recent years. His later credits included Stree, Badhaai Do, Gadar 2, Stree 2, Vanvaas, Baby John, Dhoom Dhaam and Jaat. The titles extended a screen career that had begun with his 1980 debut.

His work was not limited to cinema. On television, he appeared in shows including Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi. Pandit's recollection of their work together in theatre, plays and television also underlined the breadth of Khan's performing career beyond the films for which audiences knew him.

News of his death was among the most-searched entertainment topics on Google on 24 September 2026, bringing renewed attention to his career and to the films and performances associated with him.

Mushtaq Khan's funeral will take place on Friday in Mumbai

The funeral will take place on Friday at the Yari Road Kabristan. Khan's death brought tributes focused on his long career and the personal relationships he developed through decades of theatre, television and film work.

Pandit remembered Khan as a close friend, a brother and an actor who had "mastered the art of performance". For film audiences, Ballu's monologue in Welcome remains among his most recognised moments, while his wider career stretched from his 1980 screen debut through a long list of Hindi films, television appearances and stage work.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mushtaq Khan?

Mushtaq Khan was a veteran Hindi film and television actor and comedian whose screen career spanned more than four decades. He made his debut with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980 and appeared in films including Aashiqui, Hera Pheri, Welcome, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Stree 2 and Gadar 2.

What did Mushtaq Khan's son say about his death?

Mohsin told PTI that his father died due to cancer at Nanavati hospital at around 7 pm. He said Khan had complained of stomach pain, after which doctors discovered the cancer. According to Mohsin, Khan's health worsened in the final few days, although he had been shooting before his hospitalisation.

Which role is Mushtaq Khan best remembered for?

Khan is best remembered for playing Ballu, a disabled hockey player, in Anees Bazmee's Welcome in 2007. The film also featured Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Paresh Rawal. Ballu's comic monologue about his fake leg became one of the film's most quoted sequences.

When and where is Mushtaq Khan's funeral?

Mushtaq Khan's funeral will take place on Friday at the Yari Road Kabristan. The funeral follows his death in Mumbai after treatment at Nanavati hospital. His son Mohsin confirmed the death to PTI, while filmmaker Ashoke Pandit and FWICE president BN Tiwari were among those who spoke about Khan after his death.