More than a year after being stabbed during a break-in at his Bandra home, Saif Ali Khan has opened up about the lasting impact of the incident. In an interview with Bombay Times, the actor admitted that while his family managed to move on from the frightening episode relatively quickly, he continues to deal with certain reminders of that night.
Saif Ali Khan recalls feeling lucky
Saif revealed that something as ordinary as seeing a knife can still trigger a strong reaction. “We have dealt with it remarkably well. I think the person most affected was my wife, who is generally a very sensitive person. We kind of got over it quite quickly. It was insane, though. I am still not 100 per cent over it because if I see a knife, it just makes me react,” he said.
The actor was attacked in the early hours of January 16, 2025, after an intruder entered his 12th-floor Bandra residence through the fire escape. Saif sustained six stab wounds, including a serious injury to his thoracic spinal cord. A piece of the knife was lodged in his spine and had to be removed during emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital. He was discharged five days later.
Looking back at the attack, Saif said the severity of his injuries made him realise how fortunate he was to survive. In his trademark candid manner, the actor even joked about the weapon used during the assault.
“It was the worst knife in the history of knife attacks. If he had a proper Rambo knife, I’d be dead. You poke, it can go anywhere,” he said, adding that although he was “cut everywhere”, the injuries did not prove fatal. “I can’t get over how lucky I was.”
The experience also brought Saif face-to-face with his own mortality. Despite being covered in blood during the ordeal, he recalled feeling unexpectedly calm and reflecting on his life with gratitude. He said death itself did not frighten him as much as the possibility of surviving with permanent paralysis.
Saif Ali Khan’s case heads towards trial
The legal proceedings in the case are also moving forward. The accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam, was arrested two days after the attack in Thane. Police alleged that he was a Bangladeshi national living illegally in India and had been using the name Vijay Das.
A Mumbai sessions court recently refused to allow Islam to plead guilty. He had earlier pleaded not guilty when charges were framed on August 14, before seeking permission to change his plea on August 28. The court has fixed September 24 for recording evidence.
Islam faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to alleged armed robbery, causing grievous hurt and house-trespass, along with charges under the Foreigners Act and Passport (Entry into India) Rules.
On the work front, Saif is currently seen alongside Akshay Kumar in Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, which also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher.