A life-threatening incident that took place with Saif Ali Khan shook Bollywood! While many were concerned for him after he got stabbed, others raised questions and labelled it as a publicity stunt. However, the actor has finally debunked all the speculation and opened up about the terrifying night, his recovery, his family’s reaction, and why he chose an auto-rickshaw over a private car to reach the hospital.
Reason Why Saif Ali Khan Took An Auto To The Hospital
Many were surprised to see a superstar like Saif Ali Khan arriving at Lilavati Hospital in an auto-rickshaw, instead of taking his luxury cars. Addressing this, Saif explained: “Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to. We have a few staff members living in the house, but not the drivers. I would have driven myself if I could have found the keys. Luckily, I didn’t. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have moved around too much; I was completely lucid at the time, but I opted for the auto to avoid waiting for the driver.”
He also shared his gratitude for the rickshaw driver, Bhajan Singh Rana. He shared, “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.”
Taimur Was By his father’s side throughout
One of the biggest questions fans had was why Saif’s son, Taimur Ali Khan, accompanied him to the hospital instead of his wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Saif revealed: “He was absolutely composed. He was fine. 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.”
He added, “My wife sent him knowing what he would do for me. Maybe it wasn’t… at the moment, it was the right thing to do. I felt good about it. And I also thought, if God forbid, something happens, I’d like for him to be there. And he wanted to be there also. So, we went – him, me and Hari – in the rickshaw.”
The father-son duo, along with Saif’s staff member Hari, took the rickshaw together in the middle of the night.
The nation wants to know why was there no driver available?
Saif Ali Khan opened up, “Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to. We have a few staff members living in the house, but not the drivers. I would have driven myself if I could have found the keys. Luckily, I didn’t. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have moved around too much; I was completely lucid at the time, but I opted for the auto to avoid waiting for the driver.”
A Close Brush with Paralysis
Saif recounted the severity of his injury, revealing just how close he was to paralysis: “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. 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 actor added, “And the doctors did a phenomenal job. It was a major surgery. It took six hours – the spinal thing alone took 2.5 hours. I was under anaesthesia for like five hours or something. It’s pretty big, that’s the longest I’ve ever been in a surgery. They didn’t tell me initially. They said – there is a foreign body in your back, and we need to get rid of that. I could walk and everything. So I didn’t think it’s very serious. Then later on, the doctor told me in instalments. He said, ‘Listen, you have lost spinal fluid.’ And there’s still some numbness in my thigh. And two days later, he told me why. He said, ‘I’ve moved all your nerves around.’ It’s been an incredible, like pain-free recovery apart from some muscular ache, which I’m still experiencing.”
Saif’s “Miraculous” Recovery & Public’s Reactions
Despite the major surgery and 25+ stitches, fans were shocked to see Saif returning to public appearances just two weeks later. Addressing the buzz, he said: “Some will ridicule it, some won’t believe it, and some might make fun of it. That’s perfectly fine, as it adds color to life. If everyone had the same sympathetic reaction, it would be rather dull.”
He also shared: “Close is close. You’re either paralysed or you’re not. That’s how life is, right? I mean – you’re either hurt or not hurt. There’s 25 stitches here and there’s 30 stitches there. If you start with the two slashes on my palm and my arm – they had both not even cut a tendon. They could have cut the artery and the wrist and the veins, they could have cut… It’s just a miracle that my hands and my fingers are working fine. A guy cuts himself in the palm in the kitchen and then he can’t move his little finger for the rest of his life, you know.”
He added, “So that’s a miracle. I have like 30 most awful scars running down my neck. I don’t understand how he missed my carotid artery and jugular vein… it’s not possible to cut somebody’s neck the way my neck is cut, and not kill them.”
Reason behind Why Saif Ali Khan doesn’t have bodyguards
Many questioned why Saif Ali Khan didn’t have security personnel guarding his home. However, he remains firm in his belief: “I’ve never believed in security. People were saying, ‘Why don’t they have more security?’ I’ve never believed in security. I don’t want it. I never wanted to walk around with three of these guys. And, I think it would be a nightmare for me. And I still won’t, because I don’t think this is an attack on me. I’m not under threat.”
He also dismissed conspiracy theories, stating: “I think it just was a burglary attempt gone wrong. That poor guy, his life is more screwed than mine. So, very cliched question, but if you had to enter that room again, would you have done anything differently? I would put on the light and firstly tell him, ‘Do you know who I am?’ (Laughs) And I think he would say, ‘Oh shit! I’m in the wrong house.’ And I’d say ‘Right, put the knife down and let’s talk about this’. I think I would have tried to reason. But it was a mixture of anger, outrage and a kind of defense. I don’t know. It was just… it was too quick. And it was completely instinctive.”
Why Saif Doesn’t Keep a Gun
Unlike many royals and actors, Saif has chosen not to keep firearms at home. Explaining why, he said: “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. My father used to sleep with a shotgun by his bed. But sometimes, I believe accidents happen because there was a gun. Young kids would definitely play with it or God knows what can happen.”
Instead, his youngest son Jeh Ali Khan gave him a plastic sword and told him: “The kids are okay, thank God. Jeh has given me a plastic sword, and said, ‘Keep this by your bed for the next time the chor comes’. He says, ‘Geeta saved Abba and Abba saved me.’ Taimur is a little concerned about security. Sara was very emotional and Ibrahim was also very emotional, more than he obviously normally is. He was there and has been spending a lot of time with me. It’s been really kind of nice for the family to come together (laughs), but also obviously, a bit of a shock for everyone.”
Family’s Reaction: Kareena, Sharmila & Kids Stand Strong
Saif’s wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, was naturally shaken but remained strong and focused on security. His mother, Sharmila Tagore, initially feared secondary infections and insisted that everyone, including doctors, wear masks around him. In an emotional moment, she even sang a lullaby to comfort him during recovery.
A Bollywood-Worthy Survival Story ?
From his son’s unwavering support to the rickshaw driver’s kindness, Saif Ali Khan’s story is one of resilience, survival, and sheer luck. His honest revelations and light-hearted humor make it clear that while he has battled one of the most terrifying nights of his life, he is ready to move forward stronger than ever.
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