Remembering Sunjay Kapur: Industrialist & Polo Visionary -

Mumbai, June 14, 2025 – Sunjay J. Kapur, the 53-year-old Indian industrialist and passionate polo player, passed away on June 12 while playing a polo match at the famed Guards Polo Club in England. Kapur – Chairman of auto-parts giant Sona Comstar and a beloved figure in polo circles – suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the midst of a tournament game, collapsing during the Queen’s Cup semifinal in Windsor. Despite immediate medical assistance, the larger-than-life businessman could not be revived. His untimely death doing what he loved most has sent shockwaves through both the business community and the international polo fraternity, leaving a void that will be hard to fill.

A Passion for Polo and Sportsmanship

An accomplished equestrian and polo patron, Sunjay was a familiar sight on polo fields in India and abroad, renowned for his discipline, grace, and genuine sportsmanship. Kapur began playing competitive sports in his youth and carried that athletic zeal throughout his life. In polo, he rose to become the patron and captain of his own team – Aureus – which he proudly named and led to numerous victories.

Just days before his death, Kapur and Team Aureus clinched the prestigious Prince of Wales Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in England, a remarkable achievement in one of the UK’s top polo contests. This summer marked Aureus’s first full high-goal season in England, and Kapur was competing in the elite Queen’s Cup tournament when tragedy struck. He had been scheduled to play the British Open (Cowdray Gold Cup) next – a testament to how far his passion had taken him onto the international stage.

Within India, Kapur was a well-known figure in polo circles, often sponsoring and playing in tournaments, and encouraging others to take up the game. Friends say he brought the same energy and leadership to the field that he did to business. He would coordinate practice sessions around his busy work travel and was known for treating everyone on the team with warmth and respect. “He didn’t distinguish between his grooms and his high-net-worth friends,” recalls one close friend from the polo community. “When he had a party, everyone was invited and everyone was equal.” This inclusive camaraderie earned him deep affection among polo players, from the clubhouse elites to the stable hands. The shock of his loss has deeply shaken the polo fraternity – PoloLine, an international polo news outlet, described his passing as a “devastating blow” and noted the community’s profound sadness at losing one of their own.

A Visionary Leader in Industry

In the corporate world, Sunjay Kapur was revered as a visionary who transformed his family’s automotive venture into a global success story. He took the helm of Sona Comstar in 2015 after the passing of his father, Dr. Surinder Kapur, who had founded the Sona Group decades earlier. Under Sunjay’s leadership, the Gurgaon-based company evolved from a local auto-component maker into one of India’s most future-ready automotive suppliers, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) era.

He aggressively pivoted Sona Comstar toward EV drivetrains and cutting-edge mobility technologies, positioning it as a Tier-1 supplier to some of the world’s biggest automakers – including Elon Musk’s Tesla – and fast-growing EV start-ups. By 2024, over 90% of the firm’s revenue came from new-tech and EV-related products, a testament to Kapur’s forward-looking strategy.

Kapur also steered Sona Comstar through a highly successful IPO in 2021, propelling the company’s expansion and innovation pipeline. In recent years, he oversaw the launch of multiple new products and landmark acquisitions, such as the purchase of Serbia’s Novelic in 2023 to bring advanced sensor technology into Sona’s portfolio. Thanks to these bold moves, Sona Comstar today stands among the world’s largest producers of EV drivetrain components by volume and has diversified globally with manufacturing facilities across India, China, the US, Mexico, and Serbia. Colleagues credit Kapur for emphasizing sustainability and not relying on any single product or customer, a diversification approach that saw Sona consistently outpace industry growth from FY2017–FY2024.

Beyond his own company, Sunjay Kapur emerged as a prominent voice for India’s automotive sector at large. He served as President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) during the crucial post-pandemic recovery period, where he championed the industry’s transition to electric mobility and global integration. He was instrumental in driving policy dialogue on localisation, skilling, and incentives for clean mobility, helping align over 800 component makers with India’s broader industrial goals. At the time of his passing, Kapur was also Chairman of the CII Northern Region, advocating for manufacturing competitiveness, innovation, and “deep tech” adoption in Indian industry. In every forum, he was known for his strategic thinking and his ability to envision a global role for Indian manufacturing – traits that earned him respect far beyond his own enterprise.

Personal Warmth, Leadership, and Impact

Those who knew Sunjay Kapur personally speak not just of his acumen, but of his heart. Despite his billionaire status and high-profile life, Kapur was remembered as remarkably down-to-earth and generous. Colleagues and friends alike have been sharing stories of how he mentored young entrepreneurs, encouraged teammates, and remained approachable to all.

At his alma mater, The Doon School, where he served on the Board of Governors and chaired the sports committee, Kapur was cherished for giving back to the student community and promoting athletics and technology programs. Whether in a conference room or at a charity polo match, he led by example – with confidence, kindness, and an infectious enthusiasm.

In the wake of his passing, tributes have poured in from across industries and continents. Sona Comstar’s official statement hailed him as “a visionary leader” who played a pivotal role in shaping the company into a global mobility powerhouse built on innovation and purpose. Vivek Vikram Singh, Managing Director and CEO of Sona Comstar, struggled to put into words the magnitude of the loss: “It is an extraordinarily painful duty for me to confirm that our Chairman, and my best friend in this world, Sunjay Kapur, has passed away... Sunjay lived a remarkable life and was loved by all those who really knew him.” Singh, who worked side by side with Kapur for years, said that his friend was “the closest thing to a brother” he ever had. Such sentiments reflect how deeply Kapur touched those around him – not only through professional interactions but through genuine friendship and care.

Leaders in the automotive sector remember Kapur as a “respected leader and a visionary.” During his tenure as ACMA president, he was lauded for steering the component industry toward greater global competitiveness and EV readiness. Business associates recall his strategic mind, saying India has lost not just a corporate captain but “a strategic thinker who envisioned a global role” for the country’s manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, members of the polo community mourn the loss of a true sportsman who embodied the spirit of the game. The Guards Polo Club issued a heartfelt message expressing shock at his passing and noting that he will be sorely missed “not only by his family and friends but by the local community” in Windsor that had embraced him during the polo season.

Legacy of a Life Lived to the Fullest

Sunjay Kapur’s life journey was one of remarkable duality – a captain of industry who also galloped on horseback, a tech-forward executive with the soul of a sportsman. In business, he leaves behind a thriving enterprise, Sona Comstar, which stands as a globally recognized innovator in automotive technology – arguably his greatest professional legacy. The company’s success and future-ready stance in the EV age are a direct result of Kapur’s foresight and relentless drive.

In the world of polo, he leaves a legacy of sportsmanship and enthusiasm, having inspired many young players and contributed to raising the profile of Indian polo on the world stage. Future tournaments – from Jaipur to Windsor – will feel his absence, but his sportsman spirit will be remembered in every match Team Aureus plays.

On a personal level, Kapur will be remembered for his warmth, humility, and the human connections he forged. Friends will remember the lively gatherings where he made everyone feel like an equal, and colleagues will remember a leader who listened and motivated others to excel. He is survived by his wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, and their young son, as well as two children from his earlier marriage, to whom he was a devoted father. As they grieve, they can take pride in the outpouring of love for the man he was.

Sunjay Kapur’s passing is a heartbreaking reminder that life’s journey, however accomplished, can be all too brief. Yet, in 53 years, he managed to leave an indelible mark on so many facets of life – from factories to polo fields. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, or even just witnessing his impact from afar, will cherish his memory.

We bid farewell to a true gentleman who led with vision, played with passion, and lived life to the fullest.