Saif Ali Khan clears questions about attack, reveals Taimur asked him, 'are you going to die'

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has shared details about his terrifying attack and recovery in his first interview following his major surgery. In a candid conversation with The Times of India, Saif cleared up several questions that had been raised after his discharge from the hospital, including his ability to walk after surgery, who accompanied him to the hospital and the emotional toll of the ordeal.

The actor, who was stabbed multiple times during a violent attack in 16 January 2025, spoke about his son Taimur's reaction when the incident occurred. Saif recalled, “My clothes were soaked in blood... he asked me, ‘Are you going to die?’ I said, ‘No.’” His son’s calm demeanour during such a traumatic moment provided Saif with a sense of relief. “He said he was coming with me to the hospital... I felt that if anything happened to me, he would be with me. I felt relieved just looking into his eyes,” Saif shared. He also expressed that his wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, must have felt it was good for their son to be there with him.

Saif also explained why he ended up taking an auto-rickshaw to the hospital rather than using a car. “Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to,” he said. “We have some people staying in the house, but not the drivers. Unless you are going out at night or there’s something needed, then you tell them to stay on.” Admitting that he was completely lucid and aware of the urgency to get to the hospital quickly, he added that otherwise, he might have driven himself.

Saif was stabbed six times during a break-in at his 12th-floor apartment. Initial reports had mistakenly claimed that Saif’s son Ibrahim was with him during the incident, but it was later clarified by hospital authorities that Taimur was the one who accompanied him to the hospital. Saif’s condition was critical, and he underwent two surgeries at Lilavati Hospital before being discharged on January 21.

In his interview, Saif also recalled his confrontation with the intruder, revealing that he had no weapons other than a few ceremonial swords. Despite his injuries, he fought the attacker off in an attempt to protect himself and his family. The intruder, identified as Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national, fled the scene after the attack. He was arrested days later in Thane, following an extensive police investigation and facial recognition technology that linked him to the crime scene.

The attack left Saif with serious stab wounds, but he is now recovering. “My family is recovering too,” he said, reflecting on the emotional and physical toll of the ordeal.