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Indian billionaire Sunjay Kapur, who was friends with Prince William, has passed away after a bee stung his mouth during a polo match. The 53-year-old, notable for his role as the chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar, had a friendly relationship with the royal family, including the Prince of Wales. His ex-wife Karishma Kapoor has recounted their polo escapades in past interviews, sometimes at the expense of his own family’s well-being. Additionally, Kapur owned the Polo team, Aureus, and actively took part in exclusive matches across the United Kingdom.
The renowned businessman collapsed before his teammates during a Polo game at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor on Thursday, June 12, 2025. According to reports, Sunjay Kapur suffered a fatal heart attack after swallowing a bee mid-match. It is believed that the bee stung him in his mouth, triggering anaphylactic shock, which caused the heart attack.
Billionaire Circle Pays Tribute to Sunjay Kapur After His Death
News of Sunjay Kapur’s death has rocked the Polo community, owing to his contributions to the games and his popularity within the Polo circle, comprising mostly wealthy aristocrats. Many have taken to various platforms to express their shock at Kapur’s death, also bidding him their final farewell. In a statement following his passing, the Guards Polo Club acknowledged the news and how shocking it was for the chairman, directors, and board members to digest. They also extended condolences to Kapur’s widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur, his children, and his devastated teammates. The club was founded in 1955, with Prince Phillip as its president and King Charles taking over in 2024, three years after his dad’s death.
Sunjay Kapur’s auto company, Sona Comstar joined the tributes to the chairman, expressing deep sadness over his death. Actor Suhel Seth and several famous figures have since turned to social media to voice their sadness over the billionaire’s passing on Thursday, June 12. While the widespread reports suggest Sunjay Kapur passed away after swallowing a bee, the Hurlingham Polo Association, the UK’s polo governing body, issued a statement clarifying that “the incident was not playing-related,” declining to reveal further details.
Reactions as Billionaire Dies at 53
Meanwhile, netizens have tried to make sense of the mysterious circumstances surrounding Sunjay Kapur’s untimely demise, turning to social media with outrageous reactions. While many dwelt on the entrepreneur’s seeming obsession with the royal family and his media portrayal as Prince William’s friend despite not attending “any of the royal weddings,” others analyzed his bizarre death, making it into some sort of dark humor. One Reddit user wrote,
“What a way to die!!!”
Another wrote,
“So freaky, and now this is how he will be remembered, they may even include it in the next Final Destination.”
A third Redditor pointed out that “The question you should be asking is ‘how does one swallow a bee?'” to which another responded,
“Definitely by mistake like we usually swallow mosquitoes. But that’s very unfortunate. New fear unlocked.”
Kapur’s Personal Life Returns to Haunt Him
Many also condemned Sunjay Kapur for his alleged ill treatment of his ex-wife and mother of two of his kids, Karishma Kapur, long before his death. After their marriage ended acrimoniously in 2016, the Bollywood actress filed a domestic violence plea against the billionaire. She cited instances of Kapur “deciding to carry on without her” and abandoning their then-four-month-old son in her care just to run off to play Polo with Prince William. She also accused the automobile businessman of only marrying her for her fame, in the hopes of achieving popularity through her, which did not work out as he’d hoped.
Notaby, the Indian business mogul had quite the popularity, especially within the British aristocratic circle. He also made a name for himself in the business world, serving as chairman of his automobile company, Sona Comstar, among other top positions. In their tribute, Sona Comstar credited him with shaping “the identity and success of our company.”
Hours prior, Sunjay Kapur had shared a tribute of his own acknowledging the fatal victims of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. He extended heartfelt condolences to all the families affected, praying they find strength in their difficult hours. Passing away merely hours later adds to the whole mystery surrounding Sunjay Kapur’s death from a bee sting, while playing Polo, a game for which he’s suffered criticism in the past. Although many find it baffling to digest the thought of one’s demise after swallowing a bee, experts have acknowledged this possibility, explaining the fatal nature of internal stings, especially to one living with an undiagnosed allergy. Kapur leaves behind his wife Priya Sachdev and three kids.
