- Tuesday, February 11, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
In a rare and candid interview, Saif Ali Khan opened up about the terrifying home invasion that shook his family. The actor, known for his calm demeanour, recounted the harrowing ordeal with a mix of humour, humility, and a touch of disbelief.
The incident occurred late one night when an intruder broke into his home. “Kareena had been out to dinner, and I had some work in the morning, so I stayed in. She came back, we had a chat and went to sleep. After a while, the house help rushed in and said – ‘There’s an intruder! There’s a guy in Jeh’s room with a knife asking for money!’”
This mighty powerful highly intelligent spy evaded security at the Main Gate of Saif Ali Khan’s building & entered Saif’s house at 10th floor.
He stabbed Saif Ali Khan 6 times, again evaded security and escaped.
Believe it if you want. pic.twitter.com/ySMN74DZ8f
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) January 16, 2025
Saif described the surreal scene, recalling how he confronted the intruder armed only with his bare hands. “He had a knife in each hand and a mask on. It was a surreal scene. And something just kind of took over and I just grabbed him. I ran and pulled him down, and then we were wrestling. He was thumping me as hard as he could in my back, and it was just thuds.”
Despite the intense struggle, Saif remained remarkably composed. “I didn’t. It didn’t hurt because there was too much adrenaline and shock at that moment. And then he was slashing at my neck, and I was blocking it with my hand. There were slashes to my palm and my wrist and arm. There was all this violence – slashing with both hands, most of which was kind of defended.”
Realising he was outnumbered, Saif called for help. “I was just praying that someone could get this guy off me at this point. And my incredibly lovely house-help (Geeta) pulled him off me and shoved him away. And we both kind of rolled away and closed the door. And at this point, I was covered in blood, and I lost some feeling in my right leg.”
While Saif grappled with the intruder, Kareena, displaying a remarkable presence of mind, quickly moved Jeh to safety. “She had taken Jeh out while you were still grappling with the intruder?” the interviewer inquired. “Yes. While this fight happened, Jeh was taken out. I remember Kareena screaming ‘Take the kid out!’” he confirmed.
The intruder, realising he was cornered, escaped through the same route he entered – a drainpipe in the children’s bathroom. “He had gone the way he came in which was up a drainpipe into the kids’ bathroom. I don’t think he knew where he was.”
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Despite the chaos, Saif maintained a sense of humour. “And we all headed downstairs. It was a filmy scene where I was covered in blood and we took two decorative swords off the wall. And that’s what Taimur saw me covered in blood and Hari, the other house help, holding two swords. So, it was vaguely heroic, at least that moment (laughs). We said ‘Let’s get him’. And Kareena said ‘No, let’s get out! Because we’ve got to get you to a hospital, and I’ve got to get Jeh out of here because I feel he’s (the intruder) still around, and there could be more of them.'”
With his back pain intensifying, Saif knew he needed medical attention. “Kareena was shouting for a rickshaw, or a cab, or anything. I said, I kind of feel some pain. There’s something wrong with my back. She said you go to the hospital and I’ll go to my sister’s house. She was making calls frantically but nobody was up. And we looked at each other, and I said, ‘I’m fine. I’m not going to die.'”
In a moment that showcased his characteristic resilience, Saif decided to take Taimur with him to the hospital. “He said, ‘I’m coming with you.’ And I thought if something happens… I was getting a lot of comfort just from looking at him at that time. And I didn’t want to go alone. And he wanted to be there also. So, we went him, me and Hari in the rickshaw.”
The rickshaw driver, witnessing the blood-soaked Saif and his young son, drove them to the hospital with utmost care. “The rickshaw guy saw the blood and he knew something had happened. But I think because of the kid, he kind of gave the whole thing some respectability. He saw that we were decent people, somehow. I don’t know how. And he was so amazing he took a shortcut and took it easy on bumps. He drove me to Lilavati.”
Saif recounted his dramatic arrival at the hospital with a touch of humour. “Yes! (Laughs) We just walked into that emergency room. I’ve been there before a couple of times, so I knew my way around. It took them a minute to understand that there’s a celebrity involved and this is a slightly bizarre, absurd scenario. Just took a minute to sink in, you know, that a movie star has been stabbed.”
Seems like Mumbai Police has finally got the man who attacked Saif Ali Khan.
Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad attacked Saif.
He is a Bangladeshi. He entered India illegally around 6 months ago.
He was using Hindu name Vijay Das and was working in a housekeeping agency. pic.twitter.com/v7RgwpkvcT
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) January 19, 2025
The doctors quickly assessed the situation, discovering a serious injury. “They said a good three-four inches of the knife has gone in behind the shoulder blade and has worked its way right to the bloody spinal cord. It’s a massive stab and it’s broken off, and it’s nicked the cover of the spinal cord. And there’s spinal fluid leaking out, which is why the feeling in the leg was going.”
Saif acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “That’s how close it came: Just one more millimetre and we’d be talking paralysis. It’s not like, you know, a back spasm or something that we’re underplaying.
The doctors performed a six-hour surgery, expertly addressing the spinal injury. Saif expressed his gratitude for the medical team’s professionalism and the successful outcome of the operation.
Reflecting on the incident, Saif maintained a remarkably calm and philosophical perspective. He acknowledged the inevitable public scrutiny and the rumours that followed the incident.
“There has been some degree of chatter about how come nobody drives? Why did it take him two hours to reach the hospital? Absolutely not. I went downstairs and out. The first rickshaw was me going to a hospital, and then these guys went to Karisma’s house. There was no lag.”
He addressed the criticism with characteristic humor and grace. “And people on social media asking – arey, such rich people, no driver at home at night? Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to. We have some people staying in the house, but not the drivers. Unless you are going out at night or there’s something needed, then you tell them to stay on.”
Saif also addressed the speculation surrounding his response to the attack. “I think it is expected that there will be all kinds of reactions to something like this. There will be people ridiculing it. There will be people not believing it, people making fun of it. And I think that’s fine because it is what gives colour to the world. If everyone had a sympathetic reaction to something, it would be flat and dull. And I expected it, then there is no need to react to it.”
The real hero is back 💪🏻 Good to see you here Saif 😍
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.#SaifAliKhan #NextonNetflix2025 #IF #Indiaforums pic.twitter.com/JC0J3UJYpJ— India Forums (@indiaforums) February 3, 2025
However, he also emphasized the overwhelming kindness and support he received from the public. “There is so much kindness also in the world. There are so many wonderful people who know how to make you feel better by saying supportive things. From the ward boys and the doctors to the rickshaw driver, they were all just angels, heaven-sent. There is a lot of kindness in the world and a fair amount of stupidity also. But that’s what makes it interesting.”
Looking back, Saif acknowledged the profound impact of the incident. “It’s the best possible outcome apart from not getting stabbed at all (laughs). I used to have a gun also. Luckily, I don’t have that. I don’t know what would have happened.”
He reflected on his decision to not keep firearms in the house. “I didn’t believe in that anymore. I thought some kid will get hold of it, and then there’ll be other problems. I mean there are guns around at Pataudi. All the people who have guns – Rajwaras and the Rajasthanis have been messaging me that they can’t believe that guy got away with it.”
Despite the trauma, Saif remains philosophical about the incident. “I don’t think it’s going to change my life and it shouldn’t, because that would be… it would be wrong because, I mean, this is not one of those scenarios. This is somebody who is trying to steal something because of desperation. I don’t think I’m under threat.”
He concluded the interview with a poignant reflection, “This could have gone anywhere. It’s the best possible outcome apart from not getting stabbed at all (laughs). I used to have a gun also. Luckily, I don’t have that. I don’t know what would have happened.”
Saif Ali Khan’s story is a testament to his resilience and his ability to face adversity with grace and humour. It serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
