Who inherits Sunjay Kapur's billion dollar empire?

At the time of his death, Sunjay Kapur’s personal net worth stood at Dh4.5 billion

Last updated:
Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor
3 MIN READ
Sunjay Kapur
Sunjay Kapur

Dubai: Billionaire industrialist Sunjay Kapur—ex-husband to Bollywood royalty Karisma Kapoor—met a tragic ( a tad inglorious) end when he accidentally swallowed a bee while playing polo in London.

The freak mishap triggered a fatal heart attack, leaving the 53-year-old magnate lifeless on the field and the boardroom in chaos.

As news of his sudden death by bee swept across continents, Sona Comstar—his billion-dollar auto parts empire—wobbled. The company’s shares plunged by 7% on Friday morning, sending investors into a tailspin. After all, the man wasn’t just a businessman; he was the engine behind one of the world's biggest auto component manufacturers, according to reports.

With a market cap of Rs31,000 crore (around Dh13.6 billion), Sona Comstar was Sunjay’s crown jewel. He took the wheel after his father’s passing in 2015 and revved up its global expansion. But now, with the king gone, the throne is up for grabs.

Who takes the wheel at Sona Comstar?

While the official board tries to maintain a cool front—“his vision and values remain our guiding light,” read a carefully-worded statement—the truth is, there’s no clear successor. His kids with Karisma—Samaira (20) and Kiaan (14)—are too young and far removed from the boardroom hustle. His third child, Azarias (6), from current wife Priya Sachdev, is still very young.

Rumour has it his sisters might step up, though nothing’s confirmed. One thing’s for sure: the succession saga is only just beginning.

Who inherits the Dh4.5 billion fortune?

At the time of his death, Sunjay Kapur’s personal net worth stood at a jaw-dropping ₹10,300 crore (around Dh4.5 billion). At his peak, he was worth Rs13,000 crore (Dh 5.7 billion). That’s more than Shah Rukh Khan and the entire Kapoor clan combined.

As per Indian inheritance laws, most of his estate goes to his wife, Priya Sachdev. But fret not, Karisma's kids haven’t been forgotten. Reports claim Sunjay had already gifted them bonds worth Rs140 million (AED 6.1 million) and ensured they receive Rs10 lakh (Dh44,000) each per month.

Three marriages, one sudden death

The businessman’s love life was almost as newsworthy as his balance sheet. He married fashion designer Nandita Mahtani in 1996, divorced in 2000, and tied the knot with Karisma Kapoor in 2003. That marriage ended in 2016. Since 2017, he was with model-turned-actress Priya Sachdev.

What started as an ordinary polo match in London ended in the most extraordinary fashion—with a sting in the tale, quite literally. Sunjay Kapur may have gone out mid-game, but he’s left behind a legacy (and an empire) people will be fighting over for years.

Manjusha Radhakrishnan
Manjusha RadhakrishnanEntertainment Editor
Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.
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