Windsor, UK – June 12, 2025: A tranquil polo match at Guards Polo Club turned horrific when Sunjay Kapur, 53‑year‑old chairman of global auto‑parts manufacturer Sona Comstar and Karisma Kapoor’s former husband, collapsed and died suddenly. Initial reports pegged it as a “heart attack” but newer evidence points to anaphylactic shock after swallowing and being stung by a bee mid‑game .
The Unlikely Trigger: A Bee in the Mouth
According to witnesses and British press outlets, Kapur remarked, “I’ve swallowed something,” shortly after the bee sting, before falling unconscious.Medical experts clarify that bee stings in sensitive areas mouth or throat can trigger anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that constricts airways, plunges blood pressure and can induce cardiac arrest.
Business and Royalty: A Polo‑Playing Tycoon
Born into industrial legacy, Kapur ran the Sona Group founded by his father Dr. Surinder Kapur, elevating its precision forging and EV‑component wings.
An alumnus of The Doon School and the University of Buckingham with executive training from MIT and Harvard he was as comfortable negotiating boardrooms as he was guffawing beside Prince William at polo matches.
Personal Life in the Spotlight
Marriage to Karisma Kapoor (2003–2016): The union produced daughter Samaira (b.2005) and son Kiaan (b.2010)
Despite a lavish Sikh wedding, their marriage unraveled amid mutual recriminations including allegations of abuse culminating in divorce in 2016
Second marriage: Kapur married model‑turned‑entrepreneur Priya Sachdev in 2017; they welcomed a son, Azarias, in 2018
The Final Moments
At the polo ground, tragedy struck. Kapur collapsed near the match’s midpoint, and despite rapid medical intervention, he could not be revived.
Sona Comstar confirmed a fatal heart attack, while consultant Suhel Seth noted it was “apparently after swallowing a bee during a polo match in England”
Bee Stings and Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A Hidden Peril
Medical research indicates that internal bee stings, especially in mouth or throat, can swiftly trigger anaphylactic shock, leading to airway obstruction and hypotension, which may cause a heart attack Such reactions are rare but deadly serious.
Tragedy Ripples through Royal and Bollywood Circles
Royal polo community: Kapur, a fixture alongside Prince William, was known for his jovial warmth; his abrupt passing has shaken Windsor’s elite sports community.
Bollywood elite: Karisma Kapoor, elder sister Kareena, Saif Ali Khan, Malaika Arora and others warmly visited Karisma’s residence upon hearing the news
Corporate world: Sona Comstar issued an emotional statement, praising his vision and honoring his loss as a personal blow and corporate void
A Life of Triumph, Turmoil, and Polo
Kapur’s life straddled multiple worlds: the stables of polo, the halls of global business, and the glare of Bollywood headlines.
His professional credentials included:
Steering Sona Comstar’s EV‑gear advancements.
Leadership roles in Sona Koyo Steering Systems and Sona Group.
Board and advisory positions with CII and AIMA
His personal narrative full of philanthropic deeds and family devotion enhanced his public image; yet his marriage to Karisma attracted intense scrutiny over allegations of domestic discord
Final Reflections: Fleeting Life, Lingering Questions
Sunjay Kapur’s death exposes a chilling truth: life’s fragility can come from the tiniest source a bee yet unleash unfathomable consequences.
Friends recall his final gesture of solidarity: a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter) for the victims of the Air India crash earlier that day
As investigations close on the incident, awareness must grow about the urgent need for rapid allergy response, be it epinephrine auto‑injectors at sports venues or medical vigilance when throat stings occur.
Closing Thoughts
Sunjay Kapur’s passing transcends a mere celebrity obituary it’s a complex tapestry of allergy science, elite athletics and public life woven with threads of personal joy and marital turmoil. His death is a potent reminder: even the smallest encounter with nature can ignite a fatal chain reaction. As mourners gather across continents from Windsor’s green fields to Mumbai’s red carpets the urgency of preparedness in sports and public spaces is starkly underscored.