Heartfelt Tributes Honor Late Tycoon Sunjay Kapur on 54th Birthday Amid Bitter Rs 30,000 Crore Inheritance Fight

New Delhi: In a poignant display of remembrance, the children of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor marked the 54th birth anniversary of their late father, industrialist Sunjay Kapur, even as a fierce legal dispute over his vast estate rages on in court.

Sunjay Kapur, the prominent business leader and chairman of Sona Koyo Steering Systems, passed away suddenly on June 12 in the United Kingdom, succumbing to a heart attack while participating in a polo match. He would have celebrated his birthday on October 15. To honor the occasion, Karisma Kapoor posted an image on her Instagram Story showing a simple yet touching birthday cake inscribed with the words “Happy Birthday Dad.” She opted not to accompany the photo with any personal note.

Karisma’s sister, Kareena Kapoor Khan, amplified the tribute by resharing the cake image on her own Instagram Story. Accompanying her repost was a brief, emotional message: “My Samu and Kiu dad is protecting you always and forever,” followed by a single heart emoji—a subtle nod to the enduring bond between father and children.

Karisma had been Sunjay’s second wife; the couple, who tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 2003, share two children: daughter Samaira, now 21, and son Kiaan, 15. Their marriage ended amicably through a mutual consent divorce petition in 2014, which received judicial approval two years later.

Sunjay’s third wife, designer Priya Sachdev, also paid her respects with an elaborate Instagram montage capturing joyful family moments. The collage included snapshots of Sunjay alongside Priya, Samaira, Kiaan, their young son Azarius, and Priya’s daughter Safira from her earlier marriage to hotelier Vikram Chatwal. In a heartfelt caption excerpt, she reflected: “They say a great man’s actions guide the world, but for me, your greatest act was how you loved, selflessly and completely. Some souls don’t depart; they expand. You are everywhere, yet still right here. My Sunjay, I know you are watching over me. Happy Birthday, J.”

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These personal gestures unfolded against the backdrop of a high-stakes courtroom showdown over Sunjay’s reported Rs 30,000 crore fortune. Samaira and Kiaan have lodged a lawsuit accusing their stepmother, Priya, of fabricating their father’s last will and testament to exclude them from any inheritance. Representing the siblings, veteran lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani argued before the Delhi High Court that the document was “forged to disinherit” Sunjay’s children from his prior union. He contended that the will also marginalized Sunjay’s mother, Rani Kapur, ensuring that “only Priya Kapur profits from this forged will.” Jethmalani highlighted linguistic anomalies, such as the inexplicable use of feminine pronouns when referring to Sunjay, as further evidence of tampering.

Priya’s legal team countered swiftly on Wednesday. Lead counsel Rajiv Nayar rejected the forgery allegations outright, asserting that a fabricated document would unlikely contain “so many mistakes,” including a misspelled name. He emphasized that no challenge had been mounted against the authenticity of Sunjay’s signature itself.

The contest has escalated sharply since Sunjay’s unexpected demise, drawing intense scrutiny to the sprawling business empire he built. As family members navigate grief through public tokens of affection, the ongoing litigation underscores the complexities of legacy and loss in India’s elite circles.