Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan sustained six stab injuries, including one to his spine, in a knife attack by an unidentified intruder. The attack is suspected to have been part of a burglary attempt at his 12th-floor residence in a posh building in Bandra (West), north-west Mumbai, in the early hours of Thursday.

Shortly after the attack, a bleeding Saif was rushed to the nearby Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the knife and address the leaking spinal fluid.

“The actor was brought to our hospital with six injuries, two of which were deep. We performed surgery near his spine and removed a 2.5-inch piece of the knife from the spine,” said Dr. Niraj Uttamani, the Chief Operating Officer of Lilavati Hospital.

Dr. Nitin Dange, a colleague at the same hospital, elaborated: “The actor sustained a major injury to his thoracic spinal cord due to the knife piercing his spine. We performed surgery to remove the knife and plug the leaking spinal fluid. We also treated two other deep wounds-one on his left hand and another on his neck. He is completely stable now and recovering well. He is out of danger.”

Known for his roles in films like Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Omkara, Parineeta, and Hum Tum, the 54-year-old Saif is the son of legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, popularly known as Tiger Pataudi, and actress Sharmila Tagore. He is also the 10th Nawab of Pataudi.

“Saif Ali Khan has come out of surgery and is out of danger. He is currently in recovery, and doctors are monitoring his progress. All family members are safe, and the police are investigating the incident. We would like to thank Dr. Niraj Uttamani, Dr. Nitin Dange, Dr. Leena Jain, and the team at Lilavati Hospital. We also thank all his fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support during this time,” Saif’s family said in a statement issued to the media. The incident took place around 2 a.m. at the 12th-floor flat of Saif’s “Satguru Sharan” building, located at the junction of 29th and 24th Roads in Bandra (W). Saif and his family occupy the top four floors of the 12-storey building.

A housemaid, identified as Eliyama Phillipes alias Lima, was the first to spot the intruder and raised an alarm, prompting Saif to rush out of his bedroom. Upon seeing the actor, the knife-wielding intruder, who is suspected to have broken into the house for a burglary, pounced on him. The actor attempted to resist, resulting in a scuffle. The intruder stabbed Saif multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Taking the attack seriously, the Mumbai police formed seven teams to investigate the incident and arrest the assailant. Former encounter specialist Daya Nayak is one of the key investigators.

Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the “Satguru Sharan” building and its vicinity to determine how the intruder gained access to Saif’s flat.

They are also examining the mobile phones of the house staff and have deployed tech intelligence, activated their informers’ network, and are working to track down the attacker and uncover the motive behind the attack.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the intruder did not break into the actor’s flat but might have sneaked into the building earlier in the night. It is believed that the intruder may have climbed the stairs to reach the 12th floor, where Saif and his family reside, and entered through a fire escape.

“We have questioned three staff members and also workers who have been coming to the actor’s new apartment for some floor polishing work in recent days,” a senior police officer said.

Saif Ali Khan lives with his wife, Kareena Kapoor, and their sons, Taimur Ali Khan (8) and Jehangir Ali Khan (4).

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Ibrahim (23), Saif’s elder son from a previous marriage who lives nearby, rushed his bleeding father to Lilavati Hospital. Since the family’s car driver was unavailable, Ibrahim hired an auto-rickshaw and took Saif to the hospital, located about 2 km away from the actor’s residence.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the state’s Home portfolio, faced criticism from opposition leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), who pointed to the incident as evidence of the worsening law and order situation in the state.

Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, “The incident is unfortunate, but it would not be accurate to say that Mumbai is unsafe. Of all the major cities in the country, Mumbai remains one of the safest. The police are taking this attack on the actor seriously, and an investigation is underway.”

“Police have provided all the details regarding the incident, including the type of attack, the intention behind it, and what led to it,” Fadnavis added.