New Delhi: Actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed six times early Thursday morning by an intruder at his residence in Mumbai’s Bandra. While the film industry has questioned the state’s “lawlessness”, paparazzi culture has also come under a question mark.
Actress Pooja Bhatt condemned the “lawlessness” in Mumbai, stating that she has “never felt this unsafe before” in an X post.
In another tweet, she wrote, “Law & Order. We have laws.. what about order?”
Can this lawlessness please be curbed @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice
We need more Police presence in Bandra. The city & especially the queen of the subburbs, have never felt so unsafe before. 🙏
Kind Attn @ShelarAshish @mieknathshinde @AjitPawarSpeaks @Dev_Fadnavis 🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/6PJm65a8Df
— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) January 16, 2025
Actress Karishma Tanna, Saif Ali Khan’s neighbour, while interacting with paparazzi, called the incident a “wake-up call”.
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi expressed his concern on social media, saying that he was “deeply disturbed” by the news.
Deeply Disturbed by news of the attack by an intruder on #SaifAliKhan
Wishing and praying for his speedy recovery.
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) January 16, 2025
However, Marathi filmmaker Samit Kakkad has full faith in the Mumbai police.
“I think our police is one of the finest in the world. The fact that there are multiple teams working to get to the bottom of it as reported in the media, speaks highly of their proactiveness. It is shocking what has happened and, if anything, puts a question on who has access to our homes and the need for extra layered security for each of our homes. Wishing Saif a speedy recovery,” he told The Print.
Also read: Attack on Saif Ali Khan: Mumbai Police identify 1 accused, 10 teams on the chase
Who is to blame?
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sanjay Raut voiced strong concerns over Maharashtra’s deteriorating law and order situation.
Chaturvedi pointed out that the attack on Saif Ali Khan once again highlights glaring issues within the Mumbai police and the responsibilities of the home minister.
The Rajya Sabha MP further emphasised that this is the third alarming incident in recent times, citing Baba Siddique’s murder and the firing outside Salman Khan’s residence.
“If celebrities are not safe then who in Mumbai is?” she wrote in an X post.
Raut criticised the police, claiming inaction from Beed to Mumbai. He further asserted that the safety of the common public in Maharashtra is severely compromised.
Fans on social media are blaming the paparazzi for compromising the actor’s security. However, Mumbai photographers have called these accusations baseless.
The paparazzi hold significant responsibility for this incident. Constantly following celebrities and exposing their homes and security details creates risks. This time, it led to a thief attempting to break into Saif Ali Khan’s house and attacking him.#saifalikhan
— Asif Qureshi (@Asifqur414) January 16, 2025
“If the actors request us to not follow them or even if they request not to click pics we do listen to them,” said Shawn, a Mumbai-based photographer, who has been on his toes ever since Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing incident was reported.
Shawn added that unlike the impression given by viral videos, photographers often assist actors in navigating through crowds.
Mayur Utekar, another photographer, called their relationship with the actors “a two-way road”.
“We don’t follow actors inside their houses. So how come we are comprising their security? Whenever we shoot them, it’s with their consent… always,” he said. “A bunch of times Kareena [Kapoor] ma’am told us to not record her kids, and we respect it by not clicking.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)