Veteran actor Raza Murad has publicly called out Bollywood's biggest names for failing to attend the funeral of character actor Mushtaq Khan, who passed away on 24 September 2026 after nearly five decades in Hindi cinema. In a sharply worded video message, Murad questioned how stars who devoted themselves to powerful industrialists and political patrons could not spare even 50 minutes for a colleague who gave the industry his entire life.

What Raza Murad Said

Murad did not mince words in his video, lamenting that not a single major Bollywood star turned up at Mushtaq Khan's last rites, which were performed on 25 September 2026 in Mumbai, even as many of Khan's fellow character actors and colleagues were present. 'The sad thing is that on such an occasion, no star, whom we call a star, came to offer his final salute. While many of his colleagues and fellow actors came,' Murad said.

He drew a pointed contrast between this absence and the eagerness Bollywood's elite display at elite gatherings. 'Yes, if the son of an industrialist were getting married, these stars would not only attend, but would also serve the guests like waiters,' Murad said in the video, in what has since become one of the most widely circulated lines from his remarks.

The Full Charge Sheet Against Bollywood's Elite

Murad's critique extended beyond the wedding analogy. He alleged that the same stars rush to attend events where political power is on display — 'like a meek cat' — yet could not find time for a man who had worked alongside virtually every major name in the industry. 'There is hardly any star with whom Mushtaq Khan had not worked, yet they did not come even for a few moments to salute him,' Murad said, his tone a mix of grief and anger.

He reminded the film fraternity that fame and wealth are transient. 'This fame, this wealth and this honour do not last forever. The height of fame is also a spectacle of a moment. The branch on which you are sitting can also break,' he warned, in what read as both an elegy for Khan and a moral rebuke of the industry's culture of access and status.

Tributes to Mushtaq Khan's Career

Mushtaq Khan was one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable character actors, with credits spanning Welcome, Aashiqui, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, and Jodi No. 1. Over a career of nearly 50 years, he worked alongside Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, and many others. Murad praised him for building his reputation entirely through craft, without flattery or compromise. 'He never misled anyone, nor did he flatter anyone. He reached this point solely on the strength of his work,' Murad said.

Notably, Murad's remarks arrive at a moment when Bollywood's internal culture — who gets celebrated, who gets forgotten, and who gets attended to only when power demands it — is under renewed scrutiny from within the industry itself. This is not the first time senior character actors have flagged the hierarchy that privileges stardom over service to the craft.

What Happens Next

Murad's video has drawn significant attention on social media, with many voices from across the industry and public echoing his sentiments. Whether the criticism prompts any public response from the stars named implicitly remains to be seen. The episode is likely to reignite a broader conversation about how Bollywood treats its veteran supporting cast — both in life and in death.