Everybody saw his three wives but nobody saw Sanjay Kapoor’s work / Sanjay Kapoor’s dark side life

Sanjay Kapoor was not just a name, and certainly not just the ex-husband of a Bollywood celebrity. He was a towering figure in the global business landscape, a man of Indian origin who left a profound mark on multiple sectors—from automotive manufacturing to digital infrastructure, from green energy to philanthropy. His life, full of ambition, innovation, and contradictions, came to a sudden and tragic end, raising many questions that still remain unanswered. This article takes a deeper look into his incredible journey—from a boy in Delhi’s Karol Bagh to a billionaire business tycoon known in boardrooms across the world.

Born into a modest middle-class family in Delhi, Sanjay Kapoor’s life was never about staying within limits. His dreams were large, global, and deeply rooted in making a difference. He pursued business studies in the United States and immersed himself in the financial sector. It was not long before he founded Sona Comstar, a company that quickly rose to international prominence, establishing a presence in countries like the US, Singapore, Dubai, and India. Through this venture, Sanjay Kapoor didn’t just chase profit—he built value, innovation, and jobs.

His business acumen and global vision earned him accolades such as “NRI Business Icon of the Year” in the United States. Despite becoming a naturalized American citizen and living most of his life abroad, Sanjay Kapoor’s heart always belonged to India. He proudly signed documents as “Proudly Indian,” a small but powerful symbol of his deep emotional connection to his homeland.

What many don’t know is that Sanjay Kapoor invested in major infrastructure projects in India that affected thousands of lives. His contributions included a green energy plant in Uttarakhand, a pilot smart city concept in Gujarat, and a cutting-edge technology hub in Chhattisgarh. These weren’t just investments for profit—they were purpose-driven projects that aimed to bridge the gap between rural India and urban innovation.

Perhaps his most ambitious project was the “Digital Heartland” initiative in Gaya, Bihar. With a personal investment of ₹180 crore, Sanjay sought to transform rural India by providing digital facilities, technical training to young people, and skill development opportunities for women. The project received political support, including backing from high-profile Indian leaders, demonstrating the scale and potential of his vision.

Tragically, Sanjay Kapoor passed away while playing polo, a sport he loved. Some reports suggest he suffered a severe allergic reaction due to a bee sting, which led to cardiac arrest. His sudden demise triggered a 900-point drop in the Indian stock market, highlighting just how deeply embedded he was in key industries such as real estate, pharmaceuticals, and technology. For a single individual’s death to impact the markets so dramatically speaks volumes about his influence.

Sanjay’s personal life, much like his professional journey, was layered and complex. He was married three times. His first marriage to Delhi-based socialite and designer Nandita Mahtani lasted just four years. Though the marriage ended in divorce, it connected him to one of India’s most prominent business families. Nandita’s brother Bharat’s wedding was attended by Bollywood royalty and industrial giants, a testament to the circles Sanjay moved in even in the 1990s.

His second marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor in 2003 garnered enormous media attention. At the time, the union was seen as a symbolic alliance between two of India’s most powerful Kapoor families—one from Delhi’s business world and the other from Mumbai’s film industry. The marriage, however, turned sour. Karisma accused Sanjay and his mother of dowry harassment and domestic abuse. Their divorce in 2016 involved a significant financial settlement including ₹14 crore, a property, and custody of their two children. Sanjay was also ordered to pay monthly child support.

In 2017, Sanjay married again—this time to fashion entrepreneur Priya Sachdev. Priya had previously been married to hotelier Vikram Chatwal, with whom she had a daughter. Sanjay and Priya had a son together, Acharya Kapoor, born in 2018. Sanjay also played a nurturing role in raising Priya’s daughter, showing a softer, family-oriented side often obscured by corporate headlines.

With an estimated net worth ranging between $1.1 to $1.18 billion (around ₹12,000 crore), Sanjay Kapoor ranked 98th on Forbes India’s 2025 billionaire list. His wealth came not only from his significant holdings in Sona Comstar but also from high-value real estate in India and abroad, and substantial investments in technology and manufacturing startups. He was also a frequent presence in elite business forums, served as chairman of SCMI (an automotive component manufacturing organization), and was a trustee of the Doon School.

Sanjay’s business interests were heavily future-oriented. He focused intensely on electric vehicles (EVs), powertrains, and advanced automotive gear systems. He believed EVs would drive the next wave of transformation in mobility and ensured his company stayed ahead of the curve with research centers and manufacturing units across India, the US, Mexico, Serbia, and China.

Despite his global profile, Sanjay Kapoor’s roots remained Indian. His family had migrated from Peshawar during the partition and settled in Delhi, where they established Kapoor Jewelers in Connaught Place—still a landmark for many in the city. His mother’s words, “Only he who does something for India is truly rich,” stayed with him throughout his life. That sentiment defined his legacy.

He came from a family with a long-standing connection to India’s business ecosystem. His maternal grandfather, Sardar Raunak Singh, was the founder of Apollo Tyres. The company’s current chairman, Omkar Singh Kanwar, is Sanjay’s maternal uncle. That strong business lineage, combined with Sanjay’s own drive and intellect, made him an unstoppable force in the entrepreneurial world.

Yet, for all his success, he wasn’t spared from the complexities of human life—failed marriages, legal battles, emotional estrangements. His life was a mosaic of ambition, sacrifice, achievement, and personal struggle. In many ways, he represented the modern Indian entrepreneur: global in outlook, yet proudly desi at heart; affluent, yet purpose-driven; controversial, yet admired.

At the time of his death, a legal and financial question loomed large—how would his massive estate be divided? With children from two different marriages and extended family ties across continents, the settlement of his wealth is bound to be a contentious issue. But more important than who inherits his wealth is who inherits his vision. Will his digital empowerment projects continue? Will the companies he founded stay true to his principles of sustainability and innovation? Only time will tell.

In remembering Sanjay Kapoor, it is vital not to reduce him to a media headline or a celebrity’s ex-husband. He was a dreamer, a doer, a disruptor. A man who believed that a boy from Karol Bagh could change the world. His legacy should not be measured merely in billions, but in the thousands of lives he touched through his vision and enterprise.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his story inspire the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs to aim higher, think broader, and always remain rooted in values.

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