Saif Ali Khan recently expressed gratitude to Bhajan Singh Rana, an auto rickshaw driver who played a crucial role in saving his life after a harrowing incident. On January 16, the actor was stabbed multiple times during an attempted burglary at his residence. Following the attack, Mr. Rana transported Saif to Lilavati Hospital, unaware of the actor’s identity.
On January 21, before being discharged from the hospital, Saif Ali Khan met Mr. Rana and posed for pictures with him. In the photos, Saif is seen smiling and resting his hands on Mr. Rana’s shoulders, showing warmth and appreciation for his timely assistance.
The actor spent six days in the hospital, undergoing two surgeries to treat his injuries. The attack occurred in the early hours of January 16, and thanks to Mr. Rana’s swift action, Saif received immediate medical attention.
After meeting Saif, Bhajan Singh Rana shared his experience with news agency IANS. “They asked me to come at 3:30 PM, and I reached a few minutes late.
When we met, his family, including his mother and children, were present. They were all very respectful. I told him to get well soon and assured him of my prayers,” said Mr. Rana.
They gave a time of 3:30 PM, I said okay, and I will reach. I was a little late, about 4-5 minutes, and then we met. As we were moving around inside, his family was there too. They were all worried, but everything went well. His mother and children were there, and I was treated with respect..
“I was invited today, which felt really good. There was nothing special, it was just a normal meeting. I told him, ‘Just get well soon, I had prayed for you earlier, and I will continue to pray…”
said Bhajan Singh Rana.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Bhajan Singh Rana, the auto driver who took actor Saif Ali Khan to the hospital after he was attacked, met the actor after he was discharged from the hospital yesterday.
Auto driver Bhajan Singh Rana says, "…They gave a time of 3:30 PM, I said okay, and I… pic.twitter.com/knmztnk9E4
— IANS (@ians_india) January 22, 2025
In an earlier interview with NDTV, Mr. Rana recounted the dramatic events of that night. He was driving near Linkin Road when a woman frantically called for his auto near Satguru Niwas, Saif’s residence. Despite being unaware of the passenger’s identity, Mr. Rana rushed Saif, who was bleeding profusely, to the hospital.
“I was going via Linkin Road. The building where he (Saif Ali Khan) lives is named Satguru Niwas. A woman came running shouting rickshaw, rickshaw, rickshaw, roko, roko, roko (stop, stop, stop). She then asked to stop the auto near the building gate,”
Mr Rana told NDTV.
“I did not know he was Saif Ali Khan. It was an emergency. Even I was nervous about who is this passenger that is getting into my auto. I was worried that I might get into trouble. And that is why I was nervous,”
said Mr Rana.
“He (Saif) was wearing a white shirt stained with blood. A child sat with him, a young man also sat with him,”
said the auto driver, narrating the sequence of events.
The police have since arrested Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who had been living in India under the alias Bijoy Das, for the attack.
Saif Ali Khan’s heartfelt gesture towards Bhajan Singh Rana highlights the actor’s gratitude towards those who came to his aid during a life-threatening situation.