Sunjay Kapur, billionaire businessman and friend of Prince William, dies aged 53

Sunjay Kapur, a businessman billionaire and longtime friend of Prince William, has died suddenly at the age of 53 during a polo match.

Prince William’s longtime friend, Sunjay Kapur, has died at age 53 after swallowing a bee, which triggered a fatal heart attack.

The billionaire businessman and chairman of global car parts giant, Sona Comstar, collapsed during a polo match in England on Thursday, the Mirror reports.

Kapur, who was the former husband of Bollywood superstar Karisma Kapoor, was stung by a bee on the mouth, which subsequently triggered anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop, the outlet added.
Experts say internal stings can be deadly as they can cause immediate swelling, blockage of the airways and a sudden drop in blood pressure, resulting in cardiac arrest, according to The New York Post.

Sunjay Kapur has died at age 53 after swallowing a bee. Picture: Instagram

The businessman was a longtime friend of Prince William. Picture: Instagram

Just hours before his death, the Indian-born businessman, who had studied in the UK, paid tribute to the victims of Thursday’s Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 241 people.

“Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad,” he wrote on X.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour.”

Kapur’s death has already sent shockwaves through both Britain’s polo circles and India’s high society.

Author and actor Suhel Seth rushed to social media to pay tribute, writing on X, “Deeply saddened at the passing of @sunjaykapur: he passed away earlier today in England.

“A terrible loss and deepest condolences to his family and to his colleagues.”

Kapur’s company, Sona Comstar, has also issued a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company,” it wrote.

The Prince of Wales had played polo with Kapur on many occasions over the years. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Kapur tied the knot with former model Priya Sachdev in 2017. Picture: @priyasachdevkapur/Instagram

Kapur was a regular on the polo circuit and frequently rubbed elbows with the royal circle.

He often took part in exclusive matches across the UK and was invited to play with members of the royal fold, including the Prince of Wales, 42.

The Post has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.

As for his personal life, Kapur had been previously married to actor Kapoor, with whom he had two children, Samaira and Kiaan.

The pair had endured a contentious divorce in 2016 after 13 years of marriage.

During their frosty split, Kapoor filed a domestic violence plea, claiming he once went off to play polo with members of the royal family while their son was sick.

Following their ill-fated union, the businessman went on to marry former model Priya Sachdev in 2017. The pair welcomed their son, Azarias, the following year.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been republished with permission.

Originally published as Sunjay Kapur, billionaire businessman and friend of Prince William, dies aged 53