Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, remembered for his memorable supporting and comic roles in films such as Welcome, Aashiqui, Hera Pheri and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, was laid to rest in Mumbai on September 25, a day after his death at the age of 75.
His final journey was attended by family members, friends and several colleagues from the film and television industry. Actors Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Rajat Bedi, Manish Wadhwa, Shahbaz Khan and Ali Khan, along with filmmaker Anees Bazmee and comedian Sunil Pal, were among those reported to have paid their respects.
Yet, one aspect of the funeral quickly became a talking point: the absence of some of Bollywood’s most prominent stars who had worked with or alongside Khan during his long career.
Actor Raza Murad publicly raised the issue after the funeral, expressing disappointment that, in his view, no major Bollywood star had come to offer Khan a final salute. Without naming any particular actor, Murad said it was unfortunate that leading personalities could not spare even around 50 minutes to attend the last rites.
There is no publicly confirmed explanation from the major actors who were absent, and it would therefore be speculative to attribute their absence to any particular reason.
Funerals in the film industry can also be affected by factors such as prior professional commitments, travel, personal circumstances or the timing of the last rites. None of these, however, has been established as the reason for the absence of specific stars from Khan’s funeral.
What is known is that several prominent members of the industry did acknowledge his death publicly. Tributes came from actors including Anupam Kher, Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal and others, while colleagues who had worked closely with Khan attended the funeral.
The distinction is important: paying tribute publicly and attending a funeral are different forms of mourning, and the absence of a particular celebrity from the funeral does not by itself establish their feelings towards the deceased.
Mushtaq Khan’s career was largely defined by the supporting roles that often do not receive the same publicity as those played by leading stars. Over more than three decades, he appeared in numerous Hindi films and television projects, steadily establishing himself as a familiar face.
His filmography included Aashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Hera Pheri, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Welcome, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Rowdy Rathore, Gadar 2, Badhaai Do and Stree 2.
For many viewers, however, his most recognisable role came in Anees Bazmee’s Welcome, where he played Ballu alongside Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Paresh Rawal.
It was the kind of role that reflected Khan’s career: he was rarely the central star, but his presence often added humour, character and memorability to the films in which he appeared.
Khan died on September 24 after being hospitalised in Mumbai. His son Mohsin Khan later said that his father had been battling cancer and that the illness had progressed rapidly.
Speaking after the funeral, Mohsin recalled his father’s final moments and said that despite his illness, Khan remained positive and died with a smile.
The family’s account has added a personal dimension to the public discussion surrounding his death, with relatives and colleagues remembering not only the actor but also the person behind the screen.
The controversy over the funeral turnout has also revived an old discussion in Bollywood: whether the industry gives enough recognition to character actors and supporting performers who spend decades contributing to films without enjoying the visibility associated with leading stars.
Raza Murad’s remarks reflected that sentiment. He emphasised that Khan had built his career through his work and did not depend on proximity to powerful people in the industry.
But the attendance at a funeral cannot, on its own, measure an actor’s contribution to cinema or the personal relationships they shared.
Mushtaq Khan’s legacy ultimately rests on the body of work he left behind. From comedy to drama and character roles, he became one of those familiar performers whose face audiences recognised even when his name was not always the first one on the poster.
His final journey may have prompted questions about who was missing, but the tributes from colleagues and the decades of work he leaves behind also underline the place he carved out for himself in Hindi cinema.
