You should not tempt fate: Saif Ali Khan recalls fatal stabbing incident

Actor Saif Ali Khan has spoken about the 2025 stabbing at his Mumbai home and its aftermath. He said the attack reshaped his view on security, privilege and how narrowly he survived.

In Short

• Saif Ali Khan recalled his 2025 fatal knife incident
• The actor recalled how he once preferred openness to extensive personal security
• Saif said memories of the violence have grown sharper over time

More than a year after he was stabbed at his Mumbai home, actor Saif Ali Khan has opened up about the terrifying 2025 incident and the lasting impact it had on him. The actor recalled how the attack changed his approach to security, made him reflect on privilege and inequality, and left him thinking about how close he came to losing his life.

Speaking to Gulf News, Saif admitted that he had never been particularly comfortable with having extensive security around him and preferred a more open way of living. However, the attack made him realise the importance of taking precautions and being mindful of his privilege.

“I wasn't a big fan of security, and I quite liked an open thing. But my takeaway is that there are a lot of haves and have-nots in the world, and you should not tempt fate. So you have to lock the doors, you have to put away the valuables, and you have to understand how lucky you are and how unlucky most people are,” he said.

The 56-year-old actor, however, revealed that the passage of time has not made the memory of the attack disappear. In fact, some aspects of the incident have become more vivid for him as time has passed.

“It doesn't really leave you that just how lucky it was, how close it came, how violent that whole thing was and how quick it was,” he recalled.

The actor also opened up about the emotions he experienced during the attack, including the moment he felt that his life could be coming to an end. Despite the terrifying circumstances, Saif said he also felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude when he reflected on the life he had lived.

For those unversed, Saif was attacked on January 16, 2025, when an intruder entered the actor’s 12th-floor Bandra flat and repeatedly stabbed him. Saif, who sustained multiple injuries, underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a knife fragment lodged near his spine. He was discharged five days later.

- Ends