Saif Ali Khan, one of Bollywood’s most popular actors, was seriously injured after being stabbed repeatedly by an intruder at his Mumbai home on Thursday.
According to police officials, Khan discovered the intruder in his 11th-floor apartment and attempted to intervene during an altercation between the suspect and household staff.
The encounter resulted in Khan receiving multiple stab wounds, with one injury reported to be in close proximity to his spine.
A team of specialists performed a 2.5-hour procedure, with additional plastic surgery underway. Hospital representatives confirm Khan is now in stable condition.
Medical officials said Khan sustained six stab wounds in the attack, which took place during a 2am altercation with an intruder who had entered the family home he shares with his wife, Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor, and their two sons.
He was taken to hospital in the early hours of Thursday with two deep cuts in his back from being stabbed with a knife, and minor injuries on his neck and hands, and was taken immediately into surgery. By Thursday afternoon, Khan’s representatives said he was “out of danger” and recovering in intensive care.
Niraj Uttamani, the chief operating officer of Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital where Khan was taken, said: “Fortunately, the injuries, while deep, were managed very well by our medical team. Khan is in the ICU but is recovering steadily. We anticipate shifting him to the general ward in a day or two.”
Nitin Dange, the neurosurgeon who operated on Khan, said it had been a “delicate operation” to remove a knife that had been lodged in the middle section of his spine. “We successfully removed the foreign object and repaired the spinal damage to prevent further complications,” said Dange.
Mumbai’s Crime Branch has launched a parallel investigation alongside local police, deploying seven teams across the city.
Mumbai police said they believed a staff member had let the intruder into the home, a penthouse apartment in Mumbai’s affluent Bandra district, and helped them circumvent the security and CCTV systems for the purposes of theft.
The whole family, including the couple’s children, had been home and asleep, but were woken by another member of staff who raised the alarm.
Khan and his wife, who are often referred to as “Bollywood royalty”, recently returned from a family holiday in Switzerland with their two children.
According to police, the intruder had been locked in a room by staff but managed to escape and has yet to be apprehended.
Authorities are currently reviewing security footage and questioning household staff members.
“The actor and the intruder had a scuffle. The actor is injured and is being treated. Investigation is ongoing,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Dixit Gedam told news agency ANI.
Representatives for Khan issued a statement confirming the incident: “There was an attempted burglary at Mr. Saif Ali Khan’s residence. He is currently in hospital undergoing a surgery. We request the media and fans to be patient. It is a police matter.”
On Thursday afternoon, Khan’s team issued another statement: “Saif Ali Khan has come out of surgery and is out of danger. He is currently in recovery and the doctors are monitoring his progress. All family members are safe and the police is investigating the incident. We would like to thank Dr. Niraj Uttamani, Dr. Nitin Dange, Dr. Leena Jain and the team at Lilavati hospital. Thank you to all his fans and well-wishers for their prayers and thoughts during this time.”
In a statement on Thursday evening, Kapoor said it had been an “incredibly challenging day for our family”.
Kapoor added that her family was fine and requested “the media and fans to be patient and not speculate any further as the police is already doing their due investigations.”
Khan, a veteran of Indian cinema spanning three decades, hails from one of Bollywood’s most prominent dynasties.
The son of cricket star Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, he made his screen debut in 1993 with “Parampara.” His breakthrough came with the 1994 films “Yeh Dillagi” and “Main Khiladi Tu Anari,” establishing him as a leading figure in Hindi cinema.
Throughout his career, Khan has gained acclaim for performances in films like “Dil Chahta Hai” (2001), “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003), “Hum Tum” (2004), for which he won India’s National Award for best actor, “Omkara” (2006) and “Tanhaji” (2020).
He’s also ventured into digital streaming, starring in Netflix’s “Sacred Games” and Prime Video series “Tandav.” His last release was “Devara Part 1,” one of the biggest hits of 2024.
Khan is known for playing romantic roles in hit films such as Hum Tum and action roles, most recently in Devara: Part 1, as well as starring in the hit Netflix thriller series Sacred Games.
Khan, who is also a movie producer, has been featured in about 70 films and television series. He is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore.
He has won multiple awards for his roles in Hindi cinema, including seven Filmfare Awards. In 2010, he received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
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