MUMBAI, Jan. 16 — Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, 54, was attacked and repeatedly stabbed by an intruder at his Mumbai home on Thursday. However, doctors reported that he is out of danger following surgery.
Khan sustained injuries to his spine, neck, and hand. Medical professionals stated that he was “on the path to complete recovery” after the operation. Dr. Nitin Dange, who was part of the surgical team, explained that Khan suffered a serious injury to his thoracic spinal cord due to a knife lodged in his spine. The surgery successfully removed the knife and addressed a spinal fluid leak.
The incident occurred just after midnight when Khan attempted to stop the intruder, who is believed to have been attempting a robbery, from entering his apartment in Bandra, a high-end neighborhood. Police confirmed that a female employee of the apartment was also attacked and is receiving medical care.
Khan, one of Bollywood’s most popular stars, is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore. He is married to fellow actor Kareena Kapoor, and his daughter from a previous marriage, Sara, is also a well-known Bollywood actor.
Authorities have identified the suspect and launched a manhunt. Senior police officer Dikshit Gedam informed the media that the intruder had tried to enter the apartment through a fire escape, indicating that the attack was likely a robbery attempt.
Khan, who has appeared in over 70 films and TV shows, is frequently seen on the red carpet. He and Kapoor, who have two young sons, are one of the most high-profile couples in Bollywood.
Khan has starred in several notable films and series, including Sacred Games, Netflix’s first Indian production, which debuted in 2018.
In the wake of the attack, film stars and opposition leaders have called for enhanced security measures across the city.
Clyde Crasto, spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party, voiced concerns on X, questioning, “If such high-profile individuals with security can be attacked in their own homes, what could happen to ordinary citizens?”
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies secured a victory in the November elections in Maharashtra, the state where Mumbai is the capital.
Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt also urged for a stronger police presence in the suburb, which is home to many in the film industry. “The city, and especially the queen of the suburbs, have never felt so unsafe before,” she remarked on X, referring to Bandra, a trendy area in Mumbai.
