breedNoted Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan, loved for his memorable comedic roles, passed away on Thursday (September 24) after battling lung cancer. He was 56.
The news of Khan’s death was confirmed by his business partner, Shivam Yadav, who told Hindustan Times that the veteran actor died on Thursday evening after being hospitalised. Khan had previously been diagnosed with lung cancer and had recovered, but the disease relapsed eight days ago. Subsequently, he was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition.
Born in Baihar, Madhya Pradesh, Mushtaq Khan began with bit roles in the 1980s, and went on to appear in numerous Hindi films and television shows. A genial, moustachioed presence, he became popular in supporting and comic roles in films such as Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Jodi No. 1 (2001) and Welcome (2007). In Welcome, he played a gangster’s man Friday who passes as a disabled former hockey player to intimidate strangers. The role, the pretend walking stick, and his catchy opening phrase “Meri ek taang nakli hain…”, all became iconic. Khan also played the hapless cop — ironically named Inspector Bahadur Singh — in Ek Aur Ek Gyaar (2003), and added to the comic shenanigans in Wanted (2007), again in police uniform. He belonged to a breed of comedic actors—stretching from Kader Khan to Dinesh Hingoo—who could brighten up any dull film, and took genuine delight in their performances. They loved the audience, and the audience loved them back.
Khan’s other notable credits included Aashiqui, Sadak, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Gadar, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Rowdy Rathod, Welcome Back and the more recent Stree 2 and Gadar 2. His vast television work spanned several landmark shows, including Nukkad, Bharat Ek Khoj, Chamatkar, and Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi.
As a public figure, Khan made headlines in 2024 when he was reportedly kidnapped on the Delhi-Meerut highway. According to reports, he was lured to Meerut on the pretext of attending an award function before being taken to a remote location near Bijnor. He was allegedly held captive and tortured for approximately 12 hours, while the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of ₹1 crore. Khan escaped after hearing the morning azaan and sought help from local residents.
More recently, online videos showed Khan participating at the Jantar Mantar protests in New Delhi earlier this year.