Business tycoon and polo player Sunjay Kapur’s sudden death at the age of 53 during a match in London on June 12 has once again brought attention to his tumultuous marriage with Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor. Filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who directed Karisma in films like Jaanwar, Ek Rishtaa, and Mere Jeevan Saathi, recently spoke about her personal struggles during an interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani.
Darshan revealed that Karisma’s marriage was marked by deep emotional and cultural disconnect. According to him, Karisma was friends with Sunjay’s sister and never had romantic intentions toward Sunjay initially. “They were never a couple in the beginning. It was an abrupt decision to marry him,” he said, adding that her split from Abhishek Bachchan had also been sudden.
Karisma, he explained, wanted a quiet, family-oriented life away from the limelight. However, she ended up in a world she couldn’t relate to. “She wished to be a domesticated wife but became more of a trophy wife,” Darshan said, highlighting the mismatch between her simple aspirations and the opulent lifestyle Sunjay’s Delhi circle expected.
He described Karisma as someone who had already seen fame, success, and glamour as Raj Kapoor’s granddaughter and Bollywood’s top actress. What she longed for, however, was emotional peace and a normal family life. “She didn’t want to play golf on weekends, she wanted to be with her children,” he said.
Karisma and Sunjay got married in 2003 and became parents to Samaira and Kiaan. Their relationship soured over time, and they filed for divorce in 2014, finalizing it in 2016. Sunjay later married Priya Sachdev.