The death of billionaire industrialist Sunjay Kapur on June 12 has once again brought into focus his high-profile personal life and business legacy. Known for helming the auto parts giant Sona Comstar, Kapur has long been a successful entrepreneur. But it was his marriage to Karisma Kapoor that brought him into the public eye. But did you know that her father Randhir Kapoor was opposed to the arranged marriage?
Karisma Kapoor, one of Bollywood’s most prominent actors from the 1990s, was once engaged to Abhishek Bachchan in 2002. The engagement made headlines everywhere, but it was abruptly called off within months.
In 2003, Karisma married Sunjay Kapur, a Delhi-based businessman. What initially appeared to be the perfect high-profile wedding soon became sour. After having two children together, their relationship ended and eventually led to a bitter legal separation, which was finalised in 2016.
The divorce proceedings were fraught with serious allegations. Karisma accused Sunjay of domestic violence, while Sunjay, in turn, claimed she had married him for his wealth. The courtroom battles and media coverage kept the couple in the spotlight for years.
Veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, Karisma’s father, had been vocal in his criticism of the marriage. In a 2016 interview with Hindustan Times, he didn’t mince words about his views on Sunjay. “Sunjay is a third-class man… Everyone knows our credentials. We are Kapoors. We don’t need to run after anyone’s money. We have been blessed with not only money, but our talent can support us for the rest of our lives,” Randhir said.
He further revealed that he had opposed the marriage from the beginning: “I never wanted Karisma marrying him. He never cared for his wife. He has been giving bull**** to her and living with another woman. The entire Delhi knows how he is. I would not like to say anything more than this.”
Their legal battle eventually culminated in a settlement in 2016. According to DNA, Sunjay Kapur paid Karisma Rs 70 crore as part of the divorce agreement. Additionally, a report by ANI noted that he invested Rs 14 crore in bonds for the couple’s two children, which generate Rs 10 lakh in annual interest. As part of the settlement, he also transferred ownership of a property originally owned by his late father to Karisma.
While his personal life often made headlines, Sunjay Kapur also built a formidable business legacy. After the death of his father, Dr. Surinder Kapur, in 2015, he took over the reins of Sona Comstar. The Gurugram-based firm experienced exponential growth under his leadership, especially with the surge in demand for electric vehicle components globally.
By 2022, Kapur had secured a spot on Forbes’ list of the World’s Billionaires. At the time of his passing, his estimated net worth stood at $1.2 billion (approximately ₹10,300 crore). Sona Comstar, with its 12 manufacturing units spread across India, China, Mexico, Serbia, and the United States, employed over 5,000 people worldwide.