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Veteran Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan, who was known for his character and comic roles in films like Welcome, Aashiqui, Hera Pheri and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, passed away at the age of 56.
Khan died at the age of 61 in Mumbai on Thursday, September 24, 2026 after his health suffered recently. Business associate Shivam told Hindustan Times that he passed away. A statement issued by the firm confirmed that Khan breathed his last at Nanavati Hospital around 7 pm.
He died today, ending a career that has spanned more than forty years, with hundreds of movie and TV credits.
Mushtaq Khan Dies in Mumbai
By that time, Mushtaq Khan had been admitted in Nanavati Hospital.
According to the actor’s business partner, he had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier and had been treated for the disease successfully. The disease was said to have reappeared recently and his condition had deteriorated a day prior to his death.
Various reports gave a different version of his recent ailment, mentioning liver cancer, while the account by his business partner, quoted by Hindustan Times, gave the original version of his alleged lung cancer recurrence. Due to these varying reports, his precise medical condition must be taken with a grain of salt.
He was 56 when he died.
A Career That Started in 1980
Mushtaq Khan made his debut on screen with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980.
In the next few decades he was one of the known faces of Hindi cinema. While he was not the typical hero, he had become an iconic figure because of his comedic timing, on-screen presence and versatility to embody multiple types of roles.
His body of work was both serious and comic.
His first few hit films included Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Krantiveer and Raja.
He went on to star in movies such as Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Hera Pheri, Jodi No. 1, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Wanted, Rowdy Rathore and Oh My God!.
Welcome was his most notable appearance.
For some fans, Mushtaq Khan will always be remembered as the character of Ballu in the 2007 comedy Welcome.
In the film directed by Anees Bazmee, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor played the lead roles. Khans played the role of Ballu, who was part of Uday Shetty’s gang.
His comic exchange about his artificially acquired leg and his ‘hockey playing’ claim was one of the film’s humorous highlights.
He was surrounded by some of the biggest names in Bollywood, yet he made his appearance in the film emerge above the rest.
The success of Welcome exposed his work to a much broader audience and made his face instantly familiar to millions of Hindi film fans.
From Aashiqui to Gadar
Khan worked in a number of films that went on to become significant classics of Hindi Cinema.
He starred as Rafoo Master in the 1990 film Aashiqui. The Mahesh Bhatt film was a blockbuster romantic musical, and is one of the most popular films of its time.
Later, he starred in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha as Gul Khan. He reprised his role in the sequel Gadar 2 in 2023.
Some of his other hit films were Hera Pheri, Jodi No 1, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Welcome Back, Stree, Badhaai Do and Stree 2.
He Continued Working in Recent Years
Even in the last phase of his career he was active.
His recent movies – Vanvaas, Baby John, Dhoom Dhaam and Jaat. Filmography information that is available through The Times of India says that he was also in movies that were released in 2026 such as – Hum Angrezon Ke Zamane Ke Jailor Hai and Cocaine.
He was able to hop from comedy to drama and also support his progeny, which ensured he remained in the Hindi cinema for several generations.
Mushtaq Khan Also Worked in Television
Khan’s career was not limited to films.
He was also seen on TV shows over his career, including: Bharat Ek Khoj, Nukkad, Adalat and Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi.
His TV appearances helped to make him a character actor comfortable in either format.
A Familiar Face in Hindi Cinema
A hallmark of Mushtaq Khan’s career was that he can leave an impression even when he is not the lead actor.
He was cast with many of the top stars in the Hindi film industry, and often played characters that advanced the plot or comic relief.
His filmography spans over four decades with movies from various eras of Bollywood.
His career spanned many generations of Hindi cinema, from the early 1990s with movies like Aashiqui to Welcome, Gadar 2, and Stree 2.
Fans Remember His Comic Timing
Fans who have fond memories of watching Khan in comedy classics and character-heavy films have begun mourning his death.
The part he played in Welcome still has huge fan following, with scenes and dialogues from the film still doing rounds on social media years after the movie was released.
To audiences, the appeal came from the fact that even a small appearance could prove to be memorable.
Bollywood Loses Another Familiar Face
This is a big loss for an industry in which the help actors like Mushtaq Khan are often a lesser recognised player.
He forged his career without ever depending on a leading role and became famous for the characters he developed during hundreds of appearances.
His popular appearances on-screen over four decades in all the films from Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai to Welcome, Gadar, Hera Pheri, Stree 2 and the films that came later.
He was 56.
September 24: The death of actor Pran, who died of a heart attack early today, was confirmed by his office here, with colleagues, friends and audiences remembering him for the many memorable supporting and comic roles in the Hindi films.
