Who inherits Sunjay Kapur's billion dollar empire?

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.

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.

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.

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.