Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan is in hospital after his home invader stabbed him 6 times and then fled

Indian Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was stabbed during an argument with an intruder at his home early Thursday and underwent surgery in hospital, media reports said.

The 54-year-old actor was rushed to hospital from his home in Mumbai, the country’s financial and entertainment capital, where he lives with his wife, film star Kareena Kapoor, and two sons.

The Press Trust of India news agency quoted a doctor at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai as saying that two of the six wounds were deep, one of them near the spine.

Indian media quoted police as saying that the intruder broke into the house at around 2:30 a.m. local time and fled after stabbing Khan. They added that an employee at Khan’s house was also injured during the attack and is receiving treatment.

The police are investigating and have begun a search for the attacker.

Kapoor said on Instagram that while the family appreciates the outpouring of support, they ask for privacy. The constant coverage and attention of photographers “was not only overwhelming, but also posed a significant risk to their safety,” she wrote.

Among the country’s most bankable stars, Khan is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore. His daughter from a previous marriage, Sara, is also a Bollywood actress.

“We use the term ‘film royalty’ quite easily. He is a true king,” said Aseem Burney, host of the show Khandaan – Bollywood PodcastHe told CBC News. He was referring to Khan’s ceremonial role as Nawab of Pataudi, a royal title derived from his family’s history as rulers. Khan inherited the title – and the palace – after his father’s death in 2011.

Together with the Kapoors – a coterie of metaphorical “cinema royalty” who, Burney said, have been part of Indian cinema for nearly 100 years – they became one of Bollywood’s most iconic couples.

But Burney said Khan’s passion for the craft and international outreach also played a big role in his fame.

Khan, who is also a film producer, has appeared in about 70 films and television series, including English-language roles. He participated in many prominent films and series, including: Sacred Games – Netflix’s first Indian production – which was released in 2018.

He has won numerous awards for his roles in Indian cinema, including seven Filmfare Awards. In 2010, he received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.

Following the attack, movie stars and opposition leaders called on the police to strengthen security measures in the city.

“If these prominent people who enjoy…security in their homes could be attacked, what would happen to ordinary citizens?” asked Clyde Crasto, an NCP spokesman, at X.

Actor and director Pooja Bhatt also called for a greater police presence in the suburb where the attack occurred, which is home to many film industry workers.

“The city, especially the queen of the suburbs, has never felt so unsafe before,” she said on Channel X, using a popular description of the trendy Bandra area.

Bollywood stardom, privacy concerns

Mohit Rajhans, a Toronto-based writer and broadcaster who has met Khan in the past, told CBC News that the attack sparks a broader conversation about the social media scrutiny that surrounds Bollywood stars.

Such artists are at the heart of “paparazzi culture,” where support often translates into fans gathering around stars’ homes and, in some cases, physically fighting against security details to get closer to them and their families, he said.

“If you’re familiar with the actual culture of Bollywood stardom, you’ll start to realize that there was a tremendous amount of privacy that these stars had to sacrifice as a result of multimedia culture,” he added. Personal items such as details of their journey and daily movements are tracked and recorded.

“Many of these stars, whether they were leaving restaurants or were simply on vacation, started seeing their lives translated online 24/7. That could be a security concern,” Ragans said.