Highlights:
- Saif Ali Khan recalled the January 2025 knife attack at his home.
- He suffered six stab wounds, including one near his spine.
- His young son Jeh was slightly injured during the break-in.
- The actor said he wanted to forgive his attacker but still struggles.
- Police later arrested a suspect in connection with the attack.
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has spoken publicly about the terrifying home invasion that left him seriously injured earlier this year. In a candid interview with Mojo Story, the actor described the violent encounter, the fear he experienced, and the emotional journey that followed.
The attack happened on January 16, 2025, when an intruder entered Khan's residence in Mumbai's Bandra neighborhood during an attempted burglary. The actor suffered six stab wounds, including a serious injury near his spine, after confronting the attacker while trying to protect his family.
Recalling the frightening moments, Khan said everything unfolded quickly after his family's nanny alerted them to the danger.
"We all processed differently. It was an insane thing. This burglar broke into the bathroom window, and the next thing is that we are lying in bed and this Nanny comes in and tell us that there is somebody in Jeh’s room and is holding a knife and asking for money. I went to the baby’s room and he was holding the baby, and he had cut the baby a little bit and he had cut the maid a little bit. Maybe if I had put the lights on, and if I had asked him, do you know where you are, and do you know what you’re doing and I could have made him talk it out. But something took over me and I did jump on him, and we had a fist fight. He went crazy with his knives, and there were cuts and blood everywhere. Just then, my maid came in and chucked him across the room."
The confrontation left Khan badly injured. As he lay bleeding, he believed he might not survive.
"I was white kurta pyjama covered in blood, and at one point, I was lying on the floor, I thought I might die. At that point, I really wanted to be with Taimur and I asked him if he will accompany me to the hospital, and he asked me, 'are you going to die?' I told him no and we went to the hospital together. I even wanted to forgive this guy because I think he made a huge mistake, and I think he was not looking for a fight. I would be happy to forgive him, but that part where he tried to kill me is something that I am finding hard to let go. It’s a question of haves and have not and it is the inequality that has led to this."
Three days after the attack, Mumbai Police arrested 30-year-old Mohammad Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, in the neighboring city of Thane. Authorities accused him of carrying out the attempted burglary and assault. The case remains part of an ongoing legal process.
Despite the traumatic experience, Khan has gradually returned to work. He recently received praise for his performance in the Netflix film Kartavya. He is also set to appear in director Priyadarshan's Haiwaan and Rahul Dholakia's Hum Hindustani.
Khan's account offers a rare glimpse into the emotional aftermath of surviving a violent crime. While he says he understands that social inequality may have played a role in the incident, he also acknowledges that forgiving someone who nearly took his life remains an ongoing struggle.
