Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 22: The Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, who returned home from hospital on Tuesday after sustaining stab wounds in his Bandra residence, met with Bhajan Singh Rana, the autorickshaw driver who once saved his life, to personally thank him for his bravery.
Joined by his mother, Sharmila Tagore, Saif expressed heartfelt gratitude and commended Rana for his selflessness. The actor promised to settle the unpaid fare and assured Rana of his support, encouraging him to continue being a source of help to others, sources said.
A photo on X shows actor Saif Ali Khan sitting next to Bhajan Singh Rana, the rickshaw driver who saved his life, in his hospital room. Saif, dressed in a white shirt and sunglasses, ready to be discharged, smiles warmly with his arm around Rana, who is wearing a blue shirt and a mask around his neck. The autorickshaw driver had not taken any money for the drive to hospital then.
Saif and actor-wife Kareena Kapoor are also planning to reward their younger son Jeh’s caretaker, Eliyamma Philip, for her brave actions during the stabbing incident. Sources said Philip’s courage played a crucial role in preventing further harm. Earlier on Wednesday, Saif’s sister Saba Ali Khan had called Eliyamma Philip a ‘hero’.
The actor was stabbed by an intruder several times in an attempted burglary case in the early hours of January 16. The incident raised questions about safety and security of celebrities, residing in posh buildings of Mumbai. After the shocking knife attack, Saif Ali Khan has decided to change his security agency. He has put his trust in Ronit Roy’s security firm Ace Security and Protection.
Ronit Roy was present on Tuesday evening, when Saif Ali Khan reached his Bandra home. He didn’t divulge details about the kind of security provided to the actor. Roy had told the media, “We are already here with Saif. He is doing fine now, and has come back.”
Police have arrested Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who is claimed to have illegally entered India and had been living under the false name of Bijoy Das, for allegedly breaking into the actor’s home and attacking him. Shariful is believed to have told the police that he needed money for his mother’s treatment and had planned to rob some rich people in Mumbai. Before entering Saif Ali’s house, he had attempted to enter three other houses but could not.
The Mumbai Police also said several fingerprints of the accused that were found at the residence of Saif Ali Khan would play an important role in probe. “Several fingerprints of the accused were found at the residence of Saif Ali Khan, these will play an important role in investigation. The finger prints were found on the stairs of the building, door of the toilet of the house and on the door handle of the room of his son Jeh,” police said.
