Javed Akhtar expresses relief over Saif Ali Khan’s recovery, highlights importance of film education

Veteran writer Javed Akhtar on Friday expressed relief over Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan’s recovery after a knife attack at his Bandra residence last week.

“All of us were extremely concerned. I’m happy he has come back from the hospital,” Akhtar said while attending the convocation ceremony at Whistling Woods International, a film institute founded by Subhash Ghai.

Khan, 54, sustained multiple stab wounds during an attempted robbery in his 12th-floor apartment and underwent two surgeries at Lilavati Hospital. He was discharged on Tuesday.

Police arrested the assailant, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national identified as Shareeful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, who entered India illegally last year and assumed the alias Vijay Das.

At the convocation, Javed Akhtar and veteran actor Pankaj Kapur were honoured with the Maestro Awards for their exceptional contributions to storytelling, cinema, and culture. Speaking to the graduating Class of 2024, Akhtar emphasised the value of formal film education in today’s industry.

“We didn’t have institutions like Whistling Woods in our time. Most of what we learned was on the job, picking it up from the sets,” he shared. He advised students to prepare for the challenges of translating knowledge into success in the real world.

“There’s a difference between college and reality. They’ve gained knowledge here, but now they must prove their calibre,” he said, encouraging the graduates to rise to the challenge.

The convocation marked a moment of celebration for budding filmmakers while also serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of safety and resilience in the film industry.