Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is recovering at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital after being stabbed multiple times during an early morning attack at his Bandra residence on Thursday. The actor, 54, sustained injuries to his neck, stomach, and back during the assault by an intruder.

The auto-rickshaw driver who rushed Khan to the hospital, Bhajan Singh Rana, recounted the dramatic incident to ABP News. “As soon as he got into my rickshaw, his first question was, ‘Kitna time lagega (How long will it take) to reach the hospital?’” said Rana.

Rana, 48, was near the main gate of Khan’s residence when he heard a commotion. “A woman was screaming for help, shouting ‘Rickshaw ruko (Stop the rickshaw).’ Initially, I thought it was a regular assault case and didn’t realize it was Saif Ali Khan.”

The driver noted that despite his injuries, Khan managed to walk to the rickshaw and board it on his own. “He was bleeding heavily, his white kurta soaked in blood. A child and another person were with him. We reached the hospital in eight to ten minutes,” Rana said, adding that he didn’t charge any fare. “I feel good that I could help him in such a critical moment.”

Doctors at Lilavati Hospital confirmed that Khan is responding well to treatment and is expected to be discharged in two to three days. “We are closely monitoring his progress, and he’s doing excellently,” said Dr. Nitin Dange, a neurosurgeon at the hospital. “He has been advised bed rest, and if his recovery continues as expected, he will be discharged soon.”

Khan sustained three injuries: two on his hand and one on the right side of his neck. The most severe injury was to his back, where a sharp object had penetrated deeply, reaching the dura and spinal cord. “Fortunately, the spinal cord was not damaged,” Dr. Dange added.

The actor’s fans and colleagues have expressed relief at the positive updates on his condition and praised the quick thinking of Bhajan Singh Rana for ensuring Khan received immediate medical attention.