Saif Ali Khan attack: 5 BIG revelations made by him on getting stabbed, recovering quickly and more

New Delhi: Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has finally addressed the swirling conspiracy theories surrounding the January 16 stabbing attack on him. In an interview with Bombay Times, the Salaam Namaste actor set the record straight on questions about his quick recovery, the absence of his driver and why he chose an auto-rickshaw to reach the hospital that night.

The internet was abuzz with speculations about why a superstar like Saif opted for an auto-rickshaw instead of a private vehicle after the attack. Many questioned the whereabouts of his driver. Scroll down to read five major revelations by him!

1. Saif Ali Khan on taking an Auto to the hospital

Responding to this, Saif explained, “Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to. The drivers don’t stay unless there’s an outing planned. I would have driven myself, but I couldn’t find the keys. Luckily, I didn’t. I probably shouldn’t have been moving too much anyway.” He clarified that calling his driver would have taken time, so he took the fastest available option—an auto.

2. Saif Ali Khan addresses his ‘quick’ recovery

Saif’s swift return to public appearances had many raising eyebrows. The 54-year-old actor who walked out of the hospital just days after undergoing two surgeries, attended an event merely two weeks later. Responding to claims that his injuries were exaggerated, he remarked, “It’s expected that there will be all kinds of reactions. Some people won’t believe it. Some will mock it. That’s fine—it makes the world colourful. If everyone reacted the same way, it would be dull.”

3. Saif Ali Khan used a sword to fight the intruder

Saif also revealed a rather cinematic detail about the night of the attack. After his attacker was cornered, Saif and his house help, Hari, instinctively grabbed two decorative swords from the wall. “It was straight out of a film—I was covered in blood, and we had swords in our hands. That’s what Taimur saw. We were ready to charge, but Kareena stopped us. She said, ‘No, let’s get to the hospital. I need to get Jeh out of here because what if there are more of them?’” he recalled.

4. Saif’s family reacts to the attack

The aftermath of the attack shook the entire Pataudi and Kapoor household. Saif revealed that his youngest son Jeh had given him a plastic sword and said, “Keep this by your bed for the next time the chor comes.” His older son, Taimur, has become more security-conscious. Saif also shared that his daughter, Sara, was emotional, while his son Ibrahim has been spending more time with him than usual.

5. Sharmila Tagore sang a lullaby for Saif

When asked if his mother, Sharmila Tagore, was upset with him for confronting the attacker or for taking his 8-year-old son, Taimur, to the hospital, Saif responded, “Well, no, she was firstly, very supportive about Taimur being there. I thought she’d be more annoyed about that. But she said – ‘No, what you thought was right and you’ve exposed him in such a different way to so many things’ – that I mean he’s a different kind of kid. She also completely understood the protective parental instinct. I remember her telling me when I was young that ‘I’ll get in the way if someone ever tries to hurt you’. It had an impact on me. So I guess it’s every parent’s instinct. And she was very protective. The doctors were worried that there shouldn’t be any secondary infection. So she was making sure everyone wore a mask, including the doctors. So there was a bit of fear of the mother.”

Saif shared that Sharmila also comforted him by singing. “She was also very nice. She held my hand and sang me a song, and it was very soothing. I can’t remember (which one). It was a lullaby. That hasn’t happened since I was a baby,” he added.

Saif Ali Khan’s recovery

Saif Ali Khan spent five days at Lilavati Hospital following the attack. He underwent two surgeries on the same day and suffered six wounds, including two deep ones. He was discharged on January 21. In early February, he made his first public appearance at a Netflix India event, promoting his upcoming film Jewel Thief, sporting a neck bandage and a cast on his hand.