It was supposed to be just another competitive polo match on a summer afternoon in England. The horses were galloping, the crowd cheering, and one of India’s most prominent businessmen, Sunjay Kapur, was doing what he loved. But within minutes, the energy of the field turned to shock, as Sunjay collapsed unexpectedly mid-game. Moments later, the 53-year-old chairman of Sona Comstar, and former husband of Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, was gone.

The news hit like a thunderclap.

For those who knew Sunjay Kapur personally—whether in business, in polo circles, or through his high-profile marriage with Karisma—the shock is indescribable. And for Karisma and her children, Samaira and Kiaan, the loss is not just news. It is heartbreak.

“He was more than just a name in headlines,” a close associate of Sunjay’s shared. “He had a warmth, a drive, and a fire in him that made him unforgettable.”

Sunjay Kapur’s life was no ordinary journey. Born into a powerful industrialist family, he rose to lead Sona Comstar into one of India’s most influential auto components companies. Under his leadership, the company didn’t just grow—it soared. His vision extended globally, and his work influenced the rise of EV auto parts manufacturing in India. He held degrees from elite institutions like MIT and Harvard. On paper, he was the epitome of success.

But behind the boardrooms and board meetings, there was another side of him: the father, the husband, the man with a quiet smile who adored polo, who once built a life with Karisma Kapoor that captured headlines for over a decade.

Their marriage, which began in 2003, had its challenges. In 2016, they officially divorced, but shared custody of their two children. Despite personal differences, those close to the former couple say Sunjay always remained a loving father, deeply involved in the lives of Samaira and Kiaan. “His children were his heart,” said a family friend. “Everything he did, he thought about them first.”

On the day of his death, Sunjay had just posted on social media, mourning the lives lost in the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. “Your time on Earth is limited,” he wrote. Ironically, that would be one of his last public thoughts. Within hours, he himself would be gone.

Reports suggest he may have choked on a bee during the polo match—an unusual and chilling twist—leading to cardiac arrest. Despite immediate medical attention, his life could not be saved. It was sudden, brutal, and far too soon.

As news of his passing spread, Karisma’s residence in Mumbai saw an influx of well-wishers and mourners. Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Malaika Arora were among the first to visit, offering silent support to a grieving family now engulfed in tragedy.

For Karisma, this loss is deeply personal. While their romantic relationship ended years ago, the bond of shared parenthood never truly fades. Her silence in the hours after his passing spoke louder than any statement. It was a mother comforting her children, a woman holding herself together in the face of unimaginable news.

“What hurts the most,” a friend said, “is that there was still so much life ahead for him. He had a young son with Priya Sachdev. He had business dreams that were just taking off on a global scale. He had reconciled with many parts of his past and was focused on building a stable, purposeful future.”

Indeed, Sunjay had remarried after Karisma—to entrepreneur and model Priya Sachdev—with whom he had a son. Their blended family dynamic, although far from the public eye, was said to be healthy and functional. Sunjay reportedly maintained a strong bond with all of his children.

The business community, too, is in mourning. Tributes poured in from industry leaders, from fellow board members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA). “He was a visionary,” said one executive. “We didn’t just lose a leader—we lost a friend, a mentor, and a force of nature.”

The tragedy has also reignited conversation around heart health, especially in high-stress individuals above the age of 50. While Sunjay appeared fit, healthy, and active, his death is a painful reminder that cardiovascular risks can strike anyone—anytime, anywhere.

Doctors have reiterated the importance of regular screenings, lifestyle management, and understanding warning signs. “You could be playing a sport you love and collapse without warning,” noted one cardiologist. “That’s how unforgiving heart disease can be.”

The Kapoor family has requested privacy during this time, but even in silence, the weight of this loss echoes far and wide.

There is something haunting about losing someone who just seemed so… alive.

He wasn’t just Karisma Kapoor’s ex-husband. He wasn’t just a chairman or a polo player. He was a father, a friend, a man with dreams, laughter, plans, regrets, and kindness. He was someone who, only hours before his passing, thought of others who were suffering. That simple gesture—his final message—now feels like both a warning and a farewell.

As the business world salutes his contributions, as friends remember his presence on the polo field, and as his children try to process the loss of their father, one truth lingers in every quiet tear shed for him:

Sunjay Kapur lived with purpose. He loved deeply. He left too soon.

But in that short time, he left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten.