{
  "id": 9587849,
  "title": "When Mushtaq Khan escaped Rs 1 crore kidnapping after hearing azaan: ‘God was with me’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/when-mushtaq-khan-escaped-rs-1-crore-kidnapping-after-hearing-azaan",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T16:55:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/mushtaq-khan-death-cancer-kidnapping-story-escaped-azaan-one-crore-10892737/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran Hindi film actor Mushtaq Khan breathed his last on Thursday after a lengthy struggle with cancer. Just weeks prior to his passing, the 56-year-old actor opened up about a harrowing kidnapping incident that took place in November 2024. Khan recounted his harrowing experience on the podcast Finding A Way With Deepti, where he revealed how he was lured to an event in Meerut, taken to a house in Bijnor, and brutally held captive. Despite the terrifying ordeal, Khan expressed gratitude for making it out alive, while also acknowledging his own mistake of not conducting thorough background checks on the individuals who approached him. He firmly believed that \"God was with me\" during his escape, which occurred after the kidnappers grew intoxicated and fell asleep, giving Khan the opportunity to flee. Khan's abductors had demanded an exorbitant ransom of Rs 1 crore, but eventually settled for Rs 20 lakh after his wife arranged the payment when they were contacted at a nearby mosque.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Veteran Hindi actor Mushtaq Khan dies at 56 after cancer battle",
    "Kidnapped in November 2024, held captive in Bijnor house",
    "God with me helped Khan escape after abductors fell asleep"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Mushtaq Khan got only Rs 1 lakh for his iconic Welcome role despite shooting extra days",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/mushtaq-khan-got-only-rs-1-lakh-for-his-iconic-welcome-role-despite",
        "published": "2026-09-24T16:40:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}