New Delhi , August 18, 2025: A storm is brewing within one of India’s prominent business families following the sudden death of industrialist Sunjay Kapur, whose estimated ₹30,000 crore estate has become the center of a bitter and public family dispute.
The conflict, already laced with grief and shock, has intensified after Sunjay’s sister, Mandhira Kapur, accused the current leadership of Sona Comstar, the auto parts giant Sunjay once led, of sidelining their 80-year-old mother, Rani Kapur, and discrediting the family’s legacy.
Sunjay, who passed away on June 12 during a polo match in England, was laid to rest quietly. But what followed has been anything but peaceful.
“It Feels Like a Nightmare”, Family Speaks Out
In an emotional interview with NDTV, Mandhira described the situation as “a nightmare we want to wake up from,” voicing deep hurt over the treatment of her mother and questioning the decisions made by the company post-Sunjay’s death.
“It’s harsh to tell an 80-year-old woman she has nothing to do with the company she helped build with her husband,” Mandhira said.
“We’re being told we can’t have the legacy our father created.”
Rani Kapur Seeks UK Probe, Alleges Coercion
Rani Kapur, Sunjay’s mother, has filed a criminal complaint in the UK, alleging coercion in signing certain documents and expressing concern over financial restrictions placed on her. She has also raised suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Sunjay’s death, calling it “mysterious.”
Sona Comstar, however, has rejected these claims, stating that Rani Kapur has not been involved with the company since 2019 and has been served a legal notice over what it calls “false and damaging allegations.”
Sidelined From Their Own Story?
In a separate interview with a news agency, Mandhira Kapur expressed anguish at being treated like outsiders.
“We’re told to go to hell. We weren’t even mentioned in the obituary,” she said.
“You can try to take the company away, but it’s in our blood.”
She further emphasized the role her parents played in growing Sona from a small jewellery business into a global automotive brand, and voiced dismay over being excluded from what she calls a shared family legacy.
Priya Sachdev’s Role and an Unhealed Grief
Adding to the emotional complexity, Mandhira also responded to reports that Sunjay’s widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur, had invited Rani to move into their home in Delhi.
“It’s not practical right now,” she said.
“That house is filled with memories of dad and now Sunjay. She’s not emotionally ready.”
The pain, she explained, is still raw. The family is reeling from two devastating losses—first the patriarch, and now Sunjay.
The Mysterious Death of Sunjay Kapur
Sunjay Kapur died suddenly while playing polo in England. His long-time associate Suhel Seth stated that Sunjay reportedly suffered a heart attack after swallowing a bee during the match. While the company confirmed the cause as a heart attack, no further details were shared.
Sunjay’s personal life had often been in the spotlight. Married three times, he had three children. His second marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor (2003–2016) brought him two children, Samaira (19) and Kiaan (13). He later married Priya Sachdev in 2017, with whom he had a son, Azarias.
As the public and private layers of this saga continue to unfold, questions linger, not just about corporate control and inheritance, but about the human cost of a legacy seemingly slipping away from those who helped build it.
With legal battles brewing, family members of Sunjay Kapur grieving, and the future of a billion-dollar company in flux, this story is far from over.
