MUMBAI: Leading Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has been accused of fracturing a man's nose in an alleged assault at a luxury hotel restaurant in Mumbai, Indian police said on Wednesday.

A case was registered against Saif after a South African man complained to police that he was punched in the face by the actor at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel's Wasabi Japanese restaurant.

Khan, 41, was dining with his girlfriend, actress Kareena Kapoor, and friends on Tuesday night when he allegedly clashed with Iqbal Sharma.

Police said that Sharma said he was hit on the nose after a "heated argument".

"Investigations are on in the matter and we are trying to trace the actor," assistant police commissioner Iqbal Sheikh told reporters.

Saif, educated at leading English private school Winchester, is one of Bollywood's biggest actors.

He is also a film producer and has recently been putting final touches to his spy-thriller "Agent Vinod", which is set for release next month.

Saif became the new Nawab (Muslim prince) of the former princely state of Pataudi last year after the death of his famous cricketing father Mansur Ali Khan, better known as "Tiger Pataudi". AGENCIES