Veteran Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan has died at the age of 56. He passed away on Thursday evening at Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. His death was confirmed by his business partner Shivam as well as representatives of film workers’ associations.
Khan had been battling cancer for several years. His business partner told HT City that he had earlier been diagnosed with lung cancer and had recovered, but the disease recently relapsed and his condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalisation. Reports have differed on the specific type of cancer, so the details have not been consistently reported across outlets.
Khan made his screen debut in ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai’ in 1980 and went on to build a career spanning more than four decades. He became a familiar face in Hindi cinema through supporting, character and comic roles.
One of his most memorable performances came in ‘Welcome’ (2007), where he played Ballu alongside Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. His comic timing and distinctive delivery made the character particularly popular with audiences.
Khan was also part of the ‘Gadar’ franchise, playing Gul Khan in ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ in 2001 and returning for ‘Gadar 2’ in 2023. His other notable films included ‘Aashiqui’, ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’, ‘Oh My God!’, ‘Stree’, ‘Badhaai Do’ and ‘Stree 2’.
Beyond films, Khan worked in television and theatre as well. His television credits included ‘Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi’, among other shows. He remained a recognisable supporting performer across several generations of Hindi cinema.
Khan’s funeral is expected to take place on Friday, September 25, at Yari Road Kabristan in Mumbai, according to reports.
