The sudden and tragic demise of billionaire businessman Sunjay Kapur in England in June sent shockwaves through his family and social circles. However, the profound grief was swiftly overshadowed by the eruption of a monumental legal battle over his colossal estate, reportedly valued at a staggering Rs 30,000 crore.
Will Favouring Third Wife Sparks Legal Firestorm
Shortly after Kapur's passing, reports surfaced of a will that allegedly bequeaths his entire fortune to his third wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, and their children. This document, according to these reports, completely excludes his mother, Rani Kapur, his sisters, and his two children from his previous marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor – Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapur. In response, Karisma Kapoor's children have approached the court, challenging the authenticity of this will and initiating a legal fight against Priya Kapur.
At the heart of this escalating conflict is Sunjay Kapur's sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith. She has now publicly addressed the situation, vehemently rejecting accusations that she is motivated by greed or a desire to claim her brother's wealth. Instead, Mandhira has positioned herself as a defender of the family's legacy, openly supporting her niece and nephew, Samaira and Kiaan, and demanding that the rights of their grandmother, Rani Kapur, be restored.
"His Children Were His Heart": Mandhira Questions the Will's Validity
Speaking candidly on the 'InControversial Podcast', Mandhira expressed utter disbelief that her brother would ever disinherit his own children. "They have been in his life longer than he even knew Priya's name, and he is going to cut them out?" she questioned. "His son was his best friend. His daughter was his first love. You don't go beyond that. Your children are your heart and soul. Even your parents come second after your kids. There is no way in hell he chose his third wife over his two kids."
Mandhira painted a picture of Sunjay as an exceptionally devoted father, whose world orbited around Samaira and Kiaan. "If you knew my brother and saw him with his children, he had eyes only for them. He didn't look beyond them," she recalled, adding, "What's happening to those two kids is deeply unfair. And I don't think something like this should be allowed to happen to an 80-year-old woman and two children. How does someone come in and claim everything?"
Doubts Over Demise and Allegations of Marital Strife
In a startling revelation, Mandhira also voiced her doubts regarding the circumstances of her brother's death. While stopping short of making direct allegations, she stated she found the actions taken immediately after his passing to be shocking. "I don't believe my brother died of natural causes because, for this to be the first step you take the very next morning after losing your husband, it's shocking to me," she said. "My brother was a healthy guy, and I will get to the bottom of everything."
Further fuelling the controversy, Mandhira claimed that marital problems between Sunjay and Priya were not a recent development. She alleged that tensions had begun as early as mid to late 2022 and were witnessed by multiple people. "Yes, there were many fights from mid to late 2022. I didn't just hear it from my mother, I heard it from people who worked in the house and even outsiders who witnessed it," she claimed. She also contested Priya's explanation of being removed from company positions in 2023 due to a routine restructuring, asserting, "She claims there was a restructuring, yes, there was a restructuring to get you out. So who are you kidding?"
Defending the Family Legacy Against "Paid PR"
As the public dispute intensified, Mandhira faced online trolling and accusations of avarice. She responded with a firm rebuttal, clarifying her motives. "I have not come forward to grab anything from my brother. I am fighting for what this family stands for," she declared. "And whether people like it or not, this is part of my inheritance and my children's inheritance. People say the sisters are greedy or the mother should move on, no. The mother gave birth to this legacy. The sisters are Class I heirs. My brother didn't create this wealth; my father did."
Mandhira attributed the negative narrative against the family to a public relations campaign, stating, "This is paid PR. Ordinary people understand what's happening. She is spending our money to fight us, but it won't last."
Sunjay Kapur's personal life involved three marriages. His first marriage to Nandita Mahtani ended in 2000. He then married Karisma Kapoor in 2003, with whom he had Samaira and Kiaan before their divorce. In 2017, he married Priya Sachdev Kapur, and the couple has a son together. The outcome of this high-stakes legal battle, involving one of India's largest personal estates, remains to be seen, with the family now deeply fractured in its wake.
