Safira Chatwal Sunjay Kapoor’s Stepdaughter Take A Step Amid Karisma Kapoor Fighting Over Property

In the aftermath of the sudden demise of businessman Sanjay Kapoor, what was once a private tragedy has now turned into a public spectacle, embroiled in controversy, suspicion, and a high-stakes battle for a massive inheritance reportedly worth ₹40 crores (approximately $5 million USD). At the heart of this unfolding drama are not only Kapoor’s wives — past and present — but also their children, each now caught in the crossfire of legacy and legitimacy.

Sanjay Kapoor, once married to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, was more recently married to model and entrepreneur Priya Sachdev. His untimely death has not only raised emotional alarms among his close ones but has also led to allegations, property claims, and whispers of foul play. What began as mourning has escalated into a legal and emotional war over money, status, and identity.

Following his death, Karisma Kapoor reportedly moved to Delhi with her two children, born from her previous marriage with Sanjay. The move is not merely coincidental — it appears to be strategic, possibly to establish legal presence in proximity to the courts and family property. Meanwhile, Priya Sachdev, Sanjay’s current wife at the time of his death, is allegedly taking steps to gain control over his estate, not only for her son with Sanjay, Azarius, but controversially, also for her daughter from a previous marriage — Safira.

Priya’s personal history adds a complex layer to the narrative. She was previously married to American-Indian businessman Vikram Chatwal in 2006, a marriage that ended in divorce in 2016. In 2017, she married Sanjay Kapoor. At the time of their marriage, Priya brought along her daughter Safira from her previous relationship, and later, she and Sanjay had a son together.

According to reports, Safira has no biological or legal ties to Sanjay Kapoor, as she was never formally adopted. Under Indian inheritance law, unless explicitly named in a will or legally adopted, a stepchild has no automatic claim over a stepparent’s property. However, new developments suggest a different strategy is unfolding.

In a move that raised eyebrows across social media and gossip columns alike, Safira recently altered her Instagram handle, quietly dropping the surname “Chatwal” from her profile. The timing of this change — immediately following Sanjay Kapoor’s passing — has not gone unnoticed. Observers speculate that this might be an attempt to subtly reposition her identity in connection with the Kapoor legacy, strengthening a public (and potentially legal) perception that she is Sanjay’s daughter in all but name.

This move comes closely after Priya Sachdev herself updated her Instagram name to include “Kapoor” as her official surname. While such a change could be considered a natural act of mourning or tribute to a late husband, critics argue that the timing, paired with her daughter’s name change, seems less about grief and more about preparing a case — both in the court of public opinion and perhaps the legal system.

On the other side of this bitter equation stands Sanjay Kapoor’s first wife, Karisma Kapoor, one of Bollywood’s most beloved actresses from the 90s. Though their marriage ended years ago, she and Sanjay shared two children, who are direct legal heirs to his estate under Hindu succession law. Karisma, long known for keeping her personal life private, has reportedly taken a more assertive role in this situation, moving to Delhi and preparing to defend her children’s rightful inheritance from any competing claims.

But if things weren’t already tense, the most explosive development came from Sanjay Kapoor’s mother, Rani Kapoor. In a bold and emotional statement, she cast doubt on the circumstances of her son’s death. She has reportedly approached authorities, requesting a formal investigation, stating that she believes there may have been foul play involved. Her suspicion? That Sanjay’s death was not natural but potentially connected to property disputes brewing within the family.

This bombshell adds an ominous undertone to what was initially a family disagreement. Rani Kapoor has made it clear she believes the inheritance struggle could be hiding something far more sinister. While no formal evidence of wrongdoing has yet been made public, her claims are already fueling speculation and dividing public opinion.

The estate in question is no small matter. Sanjay Kapoor was a businessman with varied interests, and his assets reportedly include luxury real estate in Delhi and Mumbai, shares in private ventures, and high-end vehicles. With no clear will surfacing yet, the distribution of these assets will be governed by the Hindu Succession Act, under which legal biological children — and the spouse — have primary claim.

This would legally include Karisma Kapoor’s children and Priya Sachdev’s son Azarius. However, Safira — not being Sanjay’s biological daughter, adopted child, or legal ward — technically has no standing in the matter. Yet, the current narrative being built through name changes and online gestures seems aimed at blurring those lines. If public sympathy can be stirred, legal avenues — such as arguing that Sanjay treated Safira like his own — could potentially be explored in court.

What adds another tragic layer to this saga is the memory of how the entire family came together at Sanjay Kapoor’s final rites. Photos and videos from the cremation ceremony showed Karisma, Priya, their children, and other family members standing side by side, mourning their shared loss. But those fleeting moments of unity have now given way to growing animosity and sharp divisions.

Supporters of Karisma Kapoor argue that she has always shielded her children from public controversy and deserves clarity and peace for her children’s future. Others suggest that Priya, having built a family life with Sanjay in his final years, also has a fair stake in the legacy. However, when it comes to Safira, even neutral observers are struggling to justify the legitimacy of her claim, especially in the absence of any legal adoption or public acknowledgment from Sanjay during his lifetime.

This story reflects a deeper cultural tension — the clash between modern family structures and traditional inheritance laws. Blended families are more common than ever before, yet the laws often lag behind social realities. In the absence of a will, stepchildren remain outside the purview of inheritance, no matter how emotionally close they may have been to the deceased.

As things stand, this case may head to court, especially if Priya or Safira attempt to file an official claim. Meanwhile, Karisma’s legal team is reportedly preparing documentation and witness testimonies to assert her children’s undisputed rights. Rani Kapoor’s plea for a death investigation also looms large, suggesting this controversy may deepen before it is resolved.

In the age of social media, the battle is being fought not just in legal filings but in Instagram bios, status updates, and public statements. For now, Sanjay Kapoor’s legacy remains in limbo, his property at the center of a storm that is as emotional as it is financial. What should have been a period of mourning has turned into a spectacle of accusation, legal maneuvering, and family discord.

The ultimate question remains — will truth and justice emerge from this tangled web, or will Sanjay Kapoor’s legacy be forever clouded by this bitter inheritance war?

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