# Mushtaq Khan laid to rest in Mumbai as the film industry mourns the Welcome actor

Published 2026-09-25T17:22:59Z

> Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, remembered as Ballu in Welcome, died of cancer in Mumbai on September 24, and colleagues including Rajat Bedi gathered for his funeral a day later.

Veteran Hindi film actor Mushtaq Khan, best loved as Ballu in Welcome, died in Mumbai on Thursday, September 24, after a battle with cancer. He had been admitted to the city's Nanavati Hospital, where he passed away. His family, friends and colleagues gathered on Friday, September 25, to say a final goodbye.

His business partner reportedly said the actor had recovered from lung cancer earlier, but the illness came back eight days before his death and had reached its last stage. His son Mohsin Khan told the media that the cancer was first found at an early stage but then grew aggressive very quickly. Even so, he said his father left this world with a smile, and he asked fans to celebrate his life instead of grieving.

Actor Rajat Bedi was among those who came to pay his respects. Reports say Ali Khan, Manish Wadhwa, Sulabha Arya, Anang Desai and Talat Aziz also attended. The last rites were reportedly held at the Yari Road Cemetery.

Tributes came in from across the industry, with Anupam Kher, Sunny Deol, Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra among those remembering him. Welcome director Anees Bazmee called him "my Ballu" and described him as a remarkable artist and a beautiful soul. Rajpal Yadav reportedly said he had met Mushtaq only two hours before he passed away. Hanuman Ansh director Vishal Chaturvedi revealed that the two had been set to work together on his next project, praising Mushtaq as a fine actor who left a real legacy.

His Ballu, the henchman of Nana Patekar's gangster Uday Shetty, is reportedly a big part of meme culture today. In a past interview, the actor had spoken about feeling underpaid for the film. He reportedly said he received only Rs 1 lakh, even though the shoot ran for many extra days.

His films include Aashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Welcome, along with a long run of supporting and comic roles in Hindi cinema and on television. Reports say he made his screen debut in 1980 with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai.

## Related titles
- [Welcome](https://clapnumber.com/movies/welcome)

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Source: https://clapnumber.com/news/mushtaq-khan-laid-to-rest-in-mumbai-as-the-film-industry-mourns-the-welcome-actor
Retrieved: 2026-09-25