Mushtaq Khan Cremated in Mumbai as Film Fraternity Pays Last Respects

Veteran Hindi film actor Mushtaq Khan was laid to rest in Mumbai on Friday, with a host of colleagues from the film industry gathering to pay their final respects. Among those who attended were actors Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Manish Wadhwa, Shehzad Khan and Zaid Darbar, comedian Sunil Pal, and filmmaker Anees Bazmee.

Khan died on Thursday. He had been admitted to Nanavati Hospital after developing health complications and was undergoing treatment when doctors diagnosed him with cancer. His condition worsened during the course of treatment, and he passed away.

Family, friends and fellow artistes assembled for his antim darshan and funeral, recalling his contribution to Hindi cinema and his long association with members of the industry.

Speaking about his father's illness, Khan's son Mohsin said the cancer had advanced rapidly. "It was initially at stage one, but as it became aggressive, it advanced through the stages so fast that even we couldn't realise it in time," he said. He added that the actor was not distressed at the end. "His end came with a smile on his face."

Mohsin recalled that in their last conversation, his father was happy and smiling, expressing gratitude for his life and work and pride in having been born in India.

He urged people to celebrate the actor's life rather than only mourn his death, noting that audiences still remember his famous dialogues and finest performances. "Let's celebrate his life, his struggle, his victory, and all the love that you have given him," he said.

Several projects featuring Khan are yet to be released, according to his son, including a recently completed film and other films, television serials and web series.

Mohsin also spoke of the support extended by his father's colleagues, saying Rajpal Yadav had visited the actor in hospital a day before his death, and that Anupam Kher had called with words of encouragement. He thanked the industry and the audience for their affection.

Khan began his film career in 1980 with "Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai" and went on to work for more than three decades. His filmography included "Welcome", "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha" and "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke". His comic turn in "Welcome", particularly the line "Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bahut bada player hoon", remains among his most remembered moments.