Indian law enforcement officials said Thursday that Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times at his home in an affluent area of Mumbai.
Police said Khan, a prolific actor from a prominent celebrity family, was injured by an intruder near Bandra before dawn and managed to escape. He was taken to the hospital where doctors reported him to be recovering and in stable condition.
Mumbai Police Deputy Commissioner Dixit Gedam said police were investigating the attack and believed the stabbing was part of an attempted robbery. Police say they are searching for one suspect who has been identified. “We know that the intruder used the fire escape to enter the home,” Geddam said.
Dr Nitin Dhanji, who was treating him at Lilavati Hospital, said Khan suffered severe spinal injuries and deep wounds to his arms and neck. He had undergone surgery to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid.
Khan, 54, has appeared in more than 70 films in a career spanning 30 years, playing roles ranging from fun, romantic heroes to dark, gruesome villains. His mother, Sharmila Tagore, is a famous actress, and his father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who is of royal lineage, was the captain of the Indian cricket team. Mr. Khan is also married to Kareena Kapoor Khan, also a well-known actor, and their daughter Sara Ali Khan is also an actress.
The actor’s representative issued a statement asking fans and the press to be patient while the police investigate.
As news of the stabbing spread, opposition politicians in the state of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, were quick to criticize the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for poor law enforcement.
“If celebrities are not safe, then who in Mumbai is?” said Priyanka Chaturvedi, an MP from Maharashta. I wrote on social media.
Actor and director Pooja Bhatt called for increased police presence in the neighborhood, writing: on social media“Cities, especially suburban queens, have never felt so dangerous.”
In July last year, two gunmen opened fire outside star actor Salman Khan’s house, also in Bandra. Police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting and said the suspects are related to jailed gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi.
In October, former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by three gunmen near the office of his son, also a politician, in Bandra. Mr. Siddique had close ties with Bollywood stars.
