When Mushtaq Khan said he was paid only ₹1 lakh for iconic role in Welcome, despite extra days: ‘Was not right’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Mushtaq Khan 's death has left the movie industry mourning the loss of a veteran star known for his comic timing and memorable character roles. The star, who passed away at 56 on Thursday after battling cancer, was particularly loved for his role as Ballu in Anees Bazmee's multi-starrer Welcome . While Mushtaq received immense praise for his role, in a previous interaction he had expressed that he felt he wasn't properly compensated for the movie.
Adding to this, Mushtaq Khan in a stil from Welcome. Mushtaq Khan was paid ₹ 1 lakh for Welcome In conversation with Filmymantra Media last year, Mushtaq shared that he was paid only ₹ 1 lakh by the makers of Welcome, which was much lower than what was promised to him despite him shooting for extra days for the role. He shared, “When we sign an agreement, we’re told it’s a 20-day or 25-day shoot. Based on that, we decide our payment. But when, after the 25-day shoot is over, they ask for 10 more days, and then another 15 days after that, I felt that was not right. The payment wasn’t increased."
Meanwhile, He added, “I’ll tell you the reason. For us, it was fixed that we would do the movie for ₹ 1 lakh, whether it took 20 days or 25 days. But their staff worked on a per-day basis. Just imagine how much money we would have made if we were also paid per day."
Notably, Mushtaq played the character Ballu in Welcome, a henchman of gangster Uday Shetty, played by Nana Patekar. He had one particular line in the movie that Uday would ask him to say to scare his targets. The line was, “Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bohot bada khiladi tha (One of my legs is fake. I was a great hockey player).”
As per the latest buzz, Mushtaq's role in Welcome has since become part of meme culture. The movie also starred Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Mallika Sherawat and Feroz Khan, among others. It was directed by Anees Bazmee.
In further updates, Remembering the late star, Bazmee shared a picture of Mushtaq Khan and wrote, “Shocked and speechless by the passing of Mushtaq Bhai (my balu). A truly remarkable artist and a beautiful soul. May Allah bless his soul and give strength to his family and loved ones.”
On top of that, Mushtaq made his debut with Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980. Known for his versatile performances, the star featured in a wide range of Hindi films, including Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Welcome and several others. He passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 56.
Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times