Saif Ali Khan

Saif was among the co-accused in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. He was acquitted in 2018; the state of Rajasthan challenged the acquittals.

State of the evidence

Acquittal and appeal documented

Legal status — source text

Saif remains acquitted; state appeal pending

Attribution

Historical alleged responsibility, with a favourable current legal status

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

A businessman accused Saif of punching him during an altercation at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, causing, among other injuries, a broken nose. Saif and two other men were arrested and subsequently released on bail.

State of the evidence

Complaint, arrest, bail and trial documented

Legal status — source text

Trial ongoing according to 2025 sources; no final conviction

Attribution

Alleged personal responsibility

Historic properties belonging to the Bhopal family and linked to Saif have been the subject of lengthy litigation under the Enemy Property Act, involving assets of very substantial value.

State of the evidence

Proceedings and decisions documented

Legal status — source text

Civil and administrative litigation; no personal criminal offence

Attribution

Heir and direct party

Separately from the Enemy Property case, the succession of the last Nawab of Bhopal gave rise to litigation over heirs and ownership shares. In 2025, the High Court set aside an earlier order and directed reconsideration.

State of the evidence

Judicial decisions documented

Legal status — source text

Madhya Pradesh High Court: earlier order set aside in 2025 and case remitted

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

Tandav prompted several complaints and FIRs over scenes and dialogue considered offensive to Hinduism; Saif, the lead actor, was associated with the controversy.

State of the evidence

Complaints and FIRs relating to the series documented

Legal status — source text

Proceedings involving several members of the production team; no personal guilt established against Saif

Attribution

Lead actor associated with a disputed work

Saif stated that Adipurush would show a more human side of Raavan and make Sita's abduction understandable, provoking a strong reaction.

State of the evidence

Interview, backlash and apology documented

Legal status — source text

No central criminal proceedings

Attribution

Personal responsibility for his remarks

A petition against Sacred Games challenged a passage concerning Rajiv Gandhi and named Saif among the parties.

State of the evidence

Petition documented

Legal status — source text

The court questioned the appropriateness of targeting actors

Attribution

Actor named in proceedings primarily concerning the content of a work

The name Taimur, given to Saif and Kareena's son, triggered widespread backlash, with some viewing it as glorification of Timur/Tamerlane.

State of the evidence

Backlash and responses documented

Legal status — source text

No relevant legal proceedings

Attribution

Parents criticised over their choice of name

Alongside Karan Johar and Varun Dhawan, Saif chanted "nepotism rocks" at the IIFA awards, in a segment perceived as a jibe at Kangana. His subsequent letter on dynasties and genetics prolonged the debate.

State of the evidence

IIFA segment and open letter documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility for the joke and his justification of it

A Go Goa Gone poster showing Saif with a cigar prompted intervention by an anti-tobacco group and complaints in the context of restrictions on tobacco promotion.

State of the evidence

Notices and complaints documented

Legal status — source text

No personal conviction established

Attribution

Actor-producer associated with the promotional material