The Delhi High Court became the stage for a dramatic family feud on Thursday, as the children of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor unleashed scathing accusations against their stepmother, Priya Kapur, in a bitter battle over the late Sunjay Kapur's staggering Rs 30,000 crore estate. Samaira and Kiaan Raj, the minors from Karisma's marriage to the industrialist, portrayed Priya as a "greedy" figure akin to Cinderella's cruel stepmother, alleging she orchestrated a "clumsy forgery" of Sunjay's will to seize a lion's share of the assets, leaving them vulnerable and shortchanged.

Sunjay Kapur, the prominent businessman and former husband of Karisma, passed away under circumstances that have ignited this high-stakes inheritance dispute. Married to Karisma from 2003 to 2016, they share custody of their two children, whose future now hinges on the contested will presented by Priya, Sunjay's second wife since 2017. The family's vast empire—encompassing trusts, properties, and investments valued at an eye-watering Rs 30,000 crore—has turned the case into one of India's most sensational legal sagas, drawing parallels to scripted Bollywood dramas with its mix of betrayal, forgery claims, and emotional pleas.

Represented by senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, the children argued vehemently before Justice Jyoti Singh, painting Priya as a scheming antagonist who rushed to "restrict their share" through deceit. "She has made these children the cynosure of every kidnapper's dream," Jethmalani thundered, highlighting the dangers of publicizing their inheritance. He further lambasted Priya's alleged 60% claim on the assets and 75% of the family trust, quipping, "Who is really greedy? She is no benign stepmother but Cinderella's stepmom." The counsel pointed to digital anomalies in the will—no traces of Sunjay's involvement, only those of "conspirators"—and revealed it was allegedly altered during a father-son holiday, with forgers reportedly rewarded handsomely.

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Adding fuel to the fire, Jethmalani demanded an immediate probe into the forgery, insisting, "There is enough evidence to probe the forgery, and a status quo on the movement of Sunjay's assets must be maintained." He underscored the will's irregularities: Sunjay, a savvy executive, consulted no lawyer; the executor received it just a day before probate; and Priya, as nominee, holds the reins on the empire. Sunjay's sister has echoed these sentiments, accusing Priya of meddling in his first marriage, further fracturing family ties.

Priya's defense fired back with pragmatism, revealing that the children had already pocketed Rs 1,900 crore from the trust. Her counsel retorted, "What more do they want?"—a jab at the escalating demands amid the courtroom theatrics. Last month, the court ordered Priya to submit a sealed asset inventory and permitted cross-questioning of the children's claims, signaling a deepening probe.

This ugly turn in the Rs 30,000 crore tussle underscores the perils of blended families in India's elite circles, where love, legacy, and litigation collide. As the hearing adjourns until October 13, 2025, all eyes remain on the High Court, where the fate of a Bollywood dynasty hangs in the balance. Will justice favor the fairy-tale underdogs, or will Priya's grip on the fortune hold firm? The next chapter promises more revelations in this gripping saga of wealth and wrath.

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