They failed to recognise me: Shahroz Sabzwari on being abducted, robbed in Karachi

Actor recalls being hostage by ‘Corolla Gang’ while returning home one fine night back in 2010

Street crimes in Karachi are unfortunately an experience almost everyone has been through or heard stories about. Actor Shahroz Sabzwari is no exception. During an Eid special, the Babylicious star opened up about the two times he was robbed in the city – one, where the muggers also kidnapped him for several hours.

Shahroz made an appearance on host Rabia Anum’s Eid special with his wife, model Sadaf Kanwal, and parents and actors Behroze Sabzwari and Safina Behroze. While talking about inflation and the rise of street crimes in the city once again, the host asked Shahroz if his mobile has ever been snatched.

Upon this, the Nand actor shared a traumatic story where he was held hostage by the “Corolla gang” in 2010 for several hours. The bunch thankfully failed to recognise him as an actor and let him go after gaining valuable items and cash – a story that was new for his wife as well. “I had been robbed twice; one at a gunpoint where they took my phone at Shahrah-e-Faisal, and the other in 2010, when they took me along with my phone.”

Detailing the incident, he added that he was coming back home late at night amid his co-star Komal Aziz Khan’s wedding. “They stopped my car. There was a white Corolla gang back then if you remember. I thought they were kidnapping me, but it was just temporary kidnapping, you could say. They just wanted a few things. They were basically taking me to different ATMS in the city and changing the location throughout. I had two guards at that time, and they used both of them and then also took the watch that my dad gifted me,” he said adding that the watch was very expensive.

His mother chimed in to note, “Valuables aren’t important in these situations but life is,” and she was glad that her son came back home safely. “I was calling him and the thief was picking up. I was horrified,” Safina exclaimed.

Behroze also held that the “best thing” was that the group of muggers did not recognise Shahroz. “Shahroz calmly handled the situation and told them that he’s a bank employee and doesn’t have much on him,” he said. The muggers let him go after multiple trips to several ATM locations in the city and took his phone, watch and other valuable items.

“I was very stressed for a few days then because it is a different thing when you get robbed and they take a few things from you and a different when they take you along,” stated Shahroz.

Shahroz and Sadaf got married in 2020 and share a daughter Syeda Zahra Sabzwari together. The actor also has another daughter Nooreh with Syra Yousuf, his ex-wife.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.