Karishma Kapoor in Legal War for Her Children’s Share in Late Sanjay Kapoor’s Billion-Dollar Fortune

Bollywood is once again shaken by a sensational property battle, this time involving actress Karishma Kapoor, her ex-husband Sanjay Kapoor’s family, and the fate of a trillion-rupee business empire. Just one and a half months after Sanjay Kapoor’s sudden death, the bitter war over a staggering 40,000 crore rupees’ worth of property and business interests has erupted, pitting his former wives and children against each other in a race for inheritance.

Karishma Kapoor, noted Bollywood actress and Sanjay Kapoor’s ex-wife, has now reached Delhi with her two children, Kiyan and Samaira, determined to stake their claim in what could be one of India’s most high-profile inheritance battles. The arrival of Karishma and her children at the Delhi airport was picked up by the media almost instantly, creating a flutter both in the legal and Bollywood circles. For the Kapoor family, this is not just a matter of inheritance—it has become a full-blown public drama, with accusations and counter-accusations flying around.

The shockwaves began with a letter written by Sanjay Kapoor’s mother, Rani Kapoor. In her letter, Rani accused unnamed individuals of plotting to usurp her son’s enormous fortune, estimated at 40,000 crores. Rani’s suggestion is that the main threat comes not from Karishma, but from Sanjay’s third wife, Priya Sachdev, who soon after Sanjay’s passing allegedly installed herself as the AGM of Sanjay’s globally acclaimed company, Sona Comstar. This move, insiders claim, positions Priya to inherit the lion’s share of Sanjay’s complex international business interests and wealth.

Sanjay Kapoor, who tragically passed away at the age of 52 while playing polo in London on June 12, left behind a tangled personal and financial legacy: three marriages, three children, and a fortune that spans continents, with operations reaching as far as Europe. Notably, Sanjay had not formally named any heirs in his will, complicating the distribution of his assets. As per Indian law, in the absence of a registered will, the legal spouse and recognized children automatically inherit the estate. This has resulted in Priya Sachdev, the third wife, legally receiving immediate access to Sanjay’s property—including a major stake in Sona Comstar.

Karishma Kapoor, however, is fiercely protective of her children’s rights. There is increasing speculation that she fears Priya and her son (Sanjay’s third child) will end up controlling the entire estate—leaving her children, Kiyan and Samaira, out in the cold. Determined not to let that happen, Karishma is expected to make a formal legal claim for her children’s share and demand that Sanjay’s fortune be divided into three equal parts: two for her children and one for Priya and her son.

This impending legal battle has set off alarms in the Kapoor and Sachdev households. Rani Kapoor’s letter has further inflamed the atmosphere, with allegations that Priya is moving aggressively not just to protect her rights but to consolidate her control over Sanjay’s properties and business. According to sources, Priya became a key figure in Sona Comstar almost immediately after Sanjay’s death, making strategic boardroom moves that could tip the balance of power in her favor for years to come.

Many in the industry and the media recall the turbulent history of Sanjay’s personal life. He was first married to fashion designer Nandita Mahtani, but the marriage ended after just four years without children. His second marriage to Karishma Kapoor in 2003 brought two children, but the union, too, was short-lived; by 2016, Karishma and Sanjay had divorced after a protracted, public legal battle that brought family matters into the spotlight. In 2017, Sanjay married Priya Sachdev, herself already divorced and a noted socialite. With Priya, Sanjay had another son, consolidating the complex, blended family that now faces an uneasy future.

Insiders claim that Karishma has no intention of backing down. “She will never give up her children’s rightful share,” said a close source. This determination was evident as Karishma arrived in Delhi, bringing her cause directly to the center of the legal fray. The sight of her at Delhi airport, children by her side, was widely reported and seen as the star’s public declaration of battle.

The stakes are extraordinary. Sona Comstar, Sanjay’s company, is a global heavyweight in the auto parts industry, with business spread across India, Europe, and beyond. With such massive assets at stake, every move is being closely watched both by the business community and Bollywood’s glitterati. Priya Sachdev’s swift ascension within Sona Comstar has not only raised eyebrows but also prompted hard questions about succession planning, legal spousal rights, and the power of strategic boardrooms in India’s family-owned mega-corporations.

Karishma’s legal strategy, sources say, will revolve around Indian inheritance law’s emphasis on equal division among offsprings, even from previous marriages. Legal experts suggest that unless Sanjay explicitly excluded Karishma’s children from his will or arranged assets specifically for Priya and her son, Kiyan and Samaira are fully entitled to claim a substantial portion of their father’s estate. The law, however, is rarely simple in such high-profile cases, especially where the property is not only valuable but international in extent. Lawyers for both sides are preparing for what could become a long, drawn-out court battle, involving not only property and shareholdings but also trust funds, foreign accounts, and board positions.

What’s at stake is not just money, but future power and influence. Kapoor’s children stand to inherit not only incredible wealth, but a place in one of India’s most influential business dynasties. A loss here could mean social as well as financial marginalization, a scenario neither Karishma nor her supporters are willing to accept.

Meanwhile, Priya Sachdev is said to be ready to defend her current position tooth and nail. As the current legal spouse and the only one officially recognized in Sanjay’s final years, she has direct access to business operations and control over daily affairs at Sona Comstar. Some insiders believe she will leverage every legal and corporate tool available to retain maximum control for herself and her son.

The drama has sent ripples across Delhi and Mumbai social circles, with endless speculation: Will Karishma’s public stand push the process in her favor? Or will Priya’s current legal position and business acumen tip the scales? What role will influential matriarch Rani Kapoor play, and will her open letter cause further schisms or help mediate peace in an increasingly fractured family?

Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear—the coming months promise an epic legal and emotional showdown with the future of a vast fortune and one of Bollywood’s most prominent families hanging in the balance. There are already whispers that, should the dispute turn nastier, even more personal and family secrets may surface, threatening to shake the privileged yet fragile world these families inhabit.

As everyone waits to see who will emerge victorious, the struggle for Sanjay Kapoor’s fortune is set to become one of the most closely-watched family dramas in modern Indian history. For now, the world can only watch as Karishma’s fight for her children’s legacy begins in earnest.