The 54-year-old actor was reportedly asleep when the alarm was raised by his maid at 2.30am.
According to media sources, his wife, 44-year-old Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, and their sons, Taimur, seven, and Jeh, three, were also in the house when the incident occurred, but were unharmed.
Inddian police have reviewed the CCTV footage outside Khan’s house but, within two hours of the attack, no one was visible in the lobby, the two lifts or entering the building. The culprit may have entered the flat on the 12th level by using the building shaft, a senior police officer informed the Indian Express newspaper.
A statement from Mumbai Police said: “An unknown person entered actor Saif Ali Khan’s residence and argued with his maid late last night.
“When the actor tried to intervene and pacify the man, he attacked Saif Ali Khan and injured him. Police are investigating the matter.”
Saif Ali Khan
AFP via Getty Images
Khan is an Indian actor and film producer who primarily works in Hindi-language films. He has appeared in more than 70 films and television shows.
The actor is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and former India cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi.
Khan has gained recognition for his parts in a variety of movie genres, including action thrillers, romcoms, and crime dramas including Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho.
He is the owner of the production companies Black Knight Films and Illuminati Films, and frequently hosts television shows and performs in stage plays in addition to his work in movies.
While he was born and raised in New Delhi, India, Khan was sent to a boarding school in Hertfordshire at the age of nine.
He was then enrolled at Winchester College but, following his graduation, Khan returned to India and worked for an advertising firm in Delhi for two months.
At the request of a family friend, he auditioned and was later cast in a Gwalior Suiting television commercial, but the project was shelved before it aired.
The process inspired Khan to move to Mumbai in order to pursue a career in film.
He told India Today that the move and new career made him find some direction and focus.
“Finally, I had some direction and focus. I remember […] feeling so excited that I could go to Mumbai, stay in my own place and enjoy the adventure of starting my own career.”
Khan married his wife Kareena Kapoor in 2012 and the pair share two sons, Taimur and Jeh. Khan also has two additional children, Sara and Ibrahim, from his first marriage to actress Amrita Singh.
Some of Saif Ali Khan’s biggest controversies
Khan has faced multiple controversies over the years.
The actor faced backlash after suggesting that the concept of India was defined by the British while speaking to Film Companion about period film Tanhaji in 2020.
He said: “I don’t think there was a concept of India till perhaps the British gave it one. I don’t think there is really any constructive point in arguing about it loudly, provided you yourself know why you’re doing it.”
Reacting to his comments, author and columnist for The Toronto Sun Tarek Fatah wrote: “Bollywood ‘history buff’ #SaifAliKhan claims “there was no concept of ‘India’ until the British came. Yeah right. French East India Company was about China & Vasco D’Gama went to Fiji. Last time he invoked he invoked ‘history’ he named his son Timur.”
Khan was criticised and accused in 2021 along with the rest of the cast and crew of Amazon Prime show Tandav for being insensitive to Hindus.
Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed the film was “deliberately mocking Hindu gods” at the time.
In one of the scenes that have been questioned, the Hindu god Shiva discusses “azadi” (freedom) in a university play, a contentious concept in India.
Khan later apologised on behalf of the cast and crew of Tandav “if [the film] has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments”.