Bollywood icon Karisma Kapoor, who dominated the 1990s with over 65 films, celebrates her 52nd birthday today. Beyond her stellar career, Karisma is celebrated for shattering the Kapoor family’s long-standing taboo against women entering cinema.
However, her path to stardom was mirrored by a turbulent personal life. Legendary actor Vinod Khanna once proposed a match between Karisma and his son, Akshaye Khanna, but Karisma’s mother, Babita, declined—a rejection rumoured to be the reason Akshaye never married. Later, her highly publicised engagement to Abhishek Bachchan, warmly welcomed by Jaya Bachchan, abruptly fell apart.
In 2003, Karisma married Sunjay Kapur, a union that ended in a bitter, controversial divorce amid shocking allegations of abuse, dowry harassment, and exploitation. Today, their past remains in the spotlight due to an ongoing legal battle over a ₹3,200-crore estate.
On the special occasion of Karisma’s birthday today, know the complete story of her personal relationships, marriage to Sunjay Kapur, and controversies-
Karisma Kapoor was born on June 25, 1974, to actor Randhir Kapoor and actress Babita, from Hindi cinema’s most prestigious family. At her birth, the entire Kapoor family reached Breach Candy Hospital, but grandfather Showman Raj Kapoor did not come. He clearly said, ‘I will only go to see the child when her eyes are blue.’
Fortunately, Karisma’s eyes remained deep blue, exactly like her grandfather’s. Being the first daughter in the family, she remained the darling of the entire family.
See Karisma Kapoor’s childhood pictures-
Karisma Kapoor with father Randhir Kapoor.
Karisma Kapoor crying with uncle Rishi Kapoor.
Karisma with mother Babita Kapoor.
Karisma with younger sister Kareena.
Karisma getting a picture clicked with her mother.
With Uncle Rishi Kapoor and Grandfather Raj Kapoor.
Karisma dancing with Grandfather Raj Kapoor.
At one time, her mother Babita was a well-known actress, who sacrificed her acting career to become a daughter-in-law of the Kapoor family. Some time before her marriage, she worked in the 1968 film Haseena Maan Jayegi. The shooting of this film took place at the house of Bombay business tycoon Raunak Singh.
While shooting at home, Babita became friends with Raunak Singh’s daughter Rani Singh (later Kapoor), who would later become Karisma’s mother-in-law. Rani was just 18 years old at that time. Later, Rani Singh married Surinder Kapur, a renowned auto parts businessman, with whom she had a son, Sunjay Kapur.
Sunjay Kapur’s childhood picture.
Over time, Babita and Rani’s friendship deepened. They often partied together, which also deepened the friendship between their children Karisma, Kareena, Sunjay, and his sisters.
Karisma Kapoor studied at Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. Sunjay Kapur initially studied at The Doon School in Dehradun, but within a few years, he was admitted to Karisma’s school. Their friendship grew even stronger.
After schooling, Sunjay Kapur went abroad to study, and Karisma’s interest in films began to grow, thus creating a distance in their friendship. Both became busy in their own worlds.
The film world had always attracted Karisma. Since childhood, she used to visit the film sets of her grandfather Raj Kapoor and father Randhir. She often used to tell her grandfather, ‘I will also become a heroine one day,’ to which Raj Kapoor would reply – ‘Becoming an actor is not an easy task; if you want to become an actor, then walk on thorns and work on the ground so that you can become a good actor. An actor should always aim to be the best.’
When one day Karisma told her father Randhir that she wanted to become a heroine, her father flatly refused, stating that girls from the Kapoor family would not act. But her mother Babita was in her support. This was the period when, troubled by the failure of films, he had started drinking heavily. Due to this, there were also disagreements in his and Babita’s relationship.
Then came a time when Babita left Randhir’s house in 1987 to support Karisma’s career. Being Raj Kapoor’s granddaughter, she started getting film offers without much struggle. At the age of 16, she signed several films simultaneously. Karisma first shot for the film ‘Nischay’, for which she neither had to audition nor undergo a screen test. However, even before this film, her second film ‘Prem Qaidi’ (1991) was released.
In her very first film, Karisma wore a swimsuit, which greatly displeased her uncle Rishi Kapoor. The film was average, but after that, Karisma started getting many films back-to-back.
A glimpse of a song from Karisma Kapoor’s first film, Prem Qaidi.
In 1992, her 6 films Police Officer, Jagruti, Nischay, Sapne Saajan Ke, Deedar and Jigar were released. However, she achieved major success with the 1993 film Anari.
In 1994, 10 of her films were released, among which Gopi Kishan, Raja Babu, Khuddar, Andaz Apna Apna were huge hits. Later, with blockbuster films like Saajan Chale Sasural, Krishna, Jeet, Raja Hindustani, Karisma became a star and she began to be counted among Bollywood’s top actresses.
Around this time, her name was linked with Ajay Devgn, but they soon parted ways. It was rumored in film circles that the relationship broke due to Raveena Tandon, and this was the reason why disagreements and quarrels between Karisma and Raveena increased on film sets.
Father wanted Karisma to marry Akshaye Khanna
Karisma Kapoor was at the peak of her career when her father, Randhir Kapoor, told his friend Vinod Khanna that he wanted Karisma to marry his son, Akshaye Khanna. Vinod Khanna was also considering it when Babita flatly refused.
Kareena Kapoor used to call Abhishek Bachchan ‘Jiju’
The Kapoor and Bachchan families have always been close. In fact, Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter and Abhishek Bachchan’s sister, Shweta, married Nikhil Nanda, the son of Karisma Kapoor’s aunt, Ritu Nanda. Soon after Shweta and Nikhil’s wedding, Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek’s friendship grew, and they started liking each other. Abhishek had not yet entered films then. Neither family had any objection to this relationship.
Pictures of Kareena and Abhishek from the film Refugee.
Both were in a relationship when Abhishek got his debut film Refugee with Karisma’s sister Kareena. On set, Kareena used to call Abhishek ‘Jiju’ (brother-in-law). Both also had some romantic scenes in the film, but Kareena refused and said that she considers Abhishek her brother.
In the year 2002, Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor got engaged. Amitabh Bachchan launched his book on the occasion of his 60th birthday. At this event, his wife Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were also present on stage, when Jaya Bachchan said on the mic- “Today, another family is joining the group of our Bachchan and Nanda families, and that is the Kapoor family. Randhir Kapoor and Babita Kapoor and my future daughter-in-law Karisma Kapoor. Abhishek has given us this beautiful gift on his father’s 60th birthday.”
Karisma Kapoor shyly reached the stage and clicked pictures with the Bachchan family. The news remained much discussed. Abhishek Bachchan’s first film Refugee was average. Later, his films like Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, Om Jai Jagadish also flopped.
Karisma’s mother Babita started hesitating due to Abhishek’s flop career. And then, at the same time, Jaya Bachchan put a condition that Karisma would have to stop working in films after marriage. Babita was not at all ready for this. She broke off the engagement.
Married childhood friend Sunjay Kapur at mother’s insistence
No sooner had her engagement with Abhishek broken off than Karisma’s career also started becoming unstable. Her films Shakti and Rishtey, released in 2002, were average at the box office. Around this time, her childhood friend Sunjay Kapur re-entered her life. Sunjay had married fashion designer Nandita Mahtani in 1996, but they divorced in 2000.
Once, the two met at a family wedding. This meeting after years refreshed childhood memories. They met a few more times, and Babita Kapoor soon met Rani Kapoor and arranged their marriage.
Karisma had said – After ups and downs, my parents wanted me to get married and settle down.
In an interview given to journalist Subhash K. Jha just before her wedding, Karisma had said, “Sunjay and I have known each other since childhood. Many years passed. We grew up and life moved on. He got busy with his business and I made a career in films. But perhaps what is written in destiny happens. In the past few years, I have seen many ups and downs in life. In such a situation, my parents had been wanting me to get married and settle down for a long time. Now I have finally found the person who is absolutely right for me.”
Karisma Kapoor and Sunjay Kapur got married on September 29, 2003. The wedding was celebrated with great pomp according to Punjabi rituals at Krishna Raj Bungalow, attended by many people from the industry.
See special glimpses of the wedding-
Immediately after marriage, Karisma Kapoor suddenly distanced herself from the industry. 2 years later, in 2005, Karisma gave birth to her daughter Samaira, and in 2010, to her son Kiaan. But then, after some time, a rift appeared in their relationship.
Karisma’s Claim – Husband Bid on Her During Honeymoon
Karisma maintained a low profile since her marriage, but in 2014, her marriage became a scandal. Karisma filed a complaint at Khar Police Station against her husband Sunjay and mother-in-law Seema under sections 498A and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging domestic violence and assault. In her statement to the police, Karisma said that her husband had been mentally harassing her for years. She also stated that right after their marriage, on their honeymoon, Sunjay asked his friends to bid on her and pressured her to spend time with them. When she resisted, Sunjay also raised his hand.
In the complaint, Karisma accused her mother-in-law, stating that after the wedding, her mother-in-law Seema Kapoor gave her a dress. Sunjay asked her to wear that dress during pregnancy, but when it didn’t fit, Sunjay told his mother to slap her. Amidst the dispute, Karisma left the family and started living in a house in Khar, which was in the name of Sunjay Kapur’s father, Surinder.
While this case was ongoing, Karisma filed another case in the Bandra Family Court under Section 19 of the Domestic Violence Act 2005. Lawyer Sanjog Parab had stated in a media statement that Karisma’s biggest concern in this matter is her children. The petition demanded that the children should not be taken outside the limits of Mumbai until the next hearing.
Karisma’s lawyer had also clarified that she had not demanded any kind of financial assistance for herself. On her behalf, only 10 lakh rupees per month were demanded for the upbringing of the children, and it was stated that Sunjay was giving 1.5 lakh to the children every month, which he has now stopped.
The petition also claimed that Sunjay Kapur has an affair with another woman and he also keeps the children with that woman.
Amidst the dispute, Sunjay stated that after her engagement with Abhishek broke off, Karisma married him for money and reputation.
Randhir Kapoor had said – He is a third-class man, never wanted the marriage to happen
Responding to Sunjay’s statement, Randhir Kapoor said in an interview to Hindustan Times in 2016, “Sunjay is a third-class man. Everyone knows who our family is. We are Kapoors and we don’t need to run after anyone’s money. God has given us not only wealth but also talent, with which we can live our entire lives comfortably.”
He further said, “I never wanted Karisma to marry Sunjay. He never cared for his wife. He continued to mistreat Karisma and was living with another woman. Everyone in Delhi knows what kind of person he is. I don’t want to say anything more than this.”
Many conditions were laid down for the divorce-
Sunjay Kapur and Karisma divorced in 2016, and Karisma got custody of the children. Some conditions were laid down for the divorce, which stated that Sunjay Kapur would bear all the expenses of the children. The entire cost of the children’s education would also be Sunjay’s responsibility. Sunjay could meet the children whenever he wanted. According to the DNA report, Karisma Kapoor was given 70 crore rupees for alimony.
After divorcing Karisma, Sunjay Kapur married Priya Sachdev for the third time in 2017. Priya was divorced and had a daughter from her first marriage. Sunjay Kapur also adopted her. A few years later, Priya gave birth to Sunjay’s son, who was named Azarius.
On the other hand, Karisma made her acting comeback in 2020 with the OTT platform series Mentalhood. Karisma’s children often met their father Sunjay Kapur and spent time with his family. Karisma was also spotted with her ex-husband on several occasions.
Both were busy in their respective lives when Sunjay Kapur suddenly passed away in England on June 12, 2025, due to a heart attack.
Karisma Kapoor attended Sunjay Kapur’s funeral with her children and sister. See pictures-
Dispute continues over property worth 32000 crores
Soon after Sunjay Kapoor’s demise, a dispute arose over his property worth ₹32,000 crore. Sunjay Kapoor’s third wife, Priya Kapoor, presented a will from March 2025, claiming that Sunjay had bequeathed his entire property to her. However, this will was challenged by Sunjay Kapoor’s mother, Rani Kapoor, and his two children from Karisma Kapoor. They allege that the will is fake. It even contains a misspelling of their names, which their father would never do. Karisma Kapoor’s children also claimed that their college fees have not been paid.
Amidst the dispute, the court ordered to stop the board meetings being held by Priya and has frozen the property until a decision is reached. Currently, the case is pending for hearing in the Delhi High Court and has reached the Supreme Court.
