Welcome Fame Actor Mushtaq Khan Dies at 56 After Battle With Cancer

Veteran Bollywood actor and comedian Mushtaq Khan, best known for his memorable role as Ballu in the 2007 comedy film Welcome and the iconic dialogue “Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bahut bada khiladi tha…”, died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the age of 56.

According to reports, Khan had been battling cancer for several years. The disease was reportedly diagnosed around five years ago and had returned in recent months, resulting in a significant deterioration in his health. He had been undergoing treatment at Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital, where he was admitted for around 15 days before his death.

Khan’s business partner Shivam confirmed his death to Aaj Tak/India Today, saying that the actor breathed his last earlier on Thursday. Comedian and close friend Sunil Pal also confirmed the news to Amar Ujala, saying that Khan was in the final stage of cancer.

His last rites are scheduled to be held on Friday, September 25.

Khan had a career spanning more than three decades and became a familiar face in Hindi cinema through a large number of supporting and comic roles. His filmography included Aashiqui (1990), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Hera Pheri, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Gadar, Gadar 2 and Stree 2.

His role in Welcome remains among his most widely remembered performances. Playing Ballu, a character with a prosthetic leg, Khan delivered the line about his artificial leg and his past as a hockey player, which became one of the film's most recognisable comic moments and was later widely circulated as a meme.

Khan continued working in Hindi films and television in the years that followed. His recent credits included Stree 2 (2024), while film databases list several 2025 and 2026 projects involving the actor. Bollywood Hungama's filmography, for example, lists Cocaine, released on September 5, 2026, along with Hum Angrezon Ke Zamane Ke Jailor Hai, Drop Out and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain among his recent credits.

The actor had also made headlines in November 2024 after reportedly being kidnapped near Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. According to reports at the time, he was held captive and assaulted for several hours before managing to escape.

Mushtaq Khan's death marks the loss of a veteran character actor whose career was built largely around supporting roles that added humour and distinctive personalities to Hindi films. Although he appeared in hundreds of productions, his performance in Welcome ensured that his dialogue and character remained particularly popular with audiences years after the film's release.