Mandhira Kapur responds to Priya Kapur’s defamation suit, says ‘I didn’t lie’ as family legal battle intensifies

Home EntertainmentMandhira Kapur responds to Priya Kapurs defamation suit, says I didnt lie as family legal battle intensifies Mandhira Kapur responds to Priya Kapur’s defamation suit, says ‘I didn’t lie’ as family legal battle intensifies

The legal feud in the Kapur family deepens as Priya Kapur moves court against Mandhira Kapur Smith over alleged defamatory social media claims.

Published: January 19, 2026 8:42 PM IST By Shiwani Follow Us Mandhira Kapur responds to Priya Kapur’s defamation suit, says ‘I didn’t lie’ as family legal battle intensifies

The long-running and deeply personal legal battle following the death of businessman Sanjay Kapur has taken a sharper turn. On Saturday, his widow, Priya Kapur, filed a criminal defamation case against his sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith, accusing her of damaging her reputation through repeated social media posts and videos.

According to a report by Bar and Bench, Priya alleged that Mandhira uploaded and circulated content on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and X, where she named Priya directly and made what the complaint describes as “false allegations designed to cause hatred, ridicule and social ostracism; thereby demolishing the reputation of the complainant.”

The complaint also points to a podcast in which Mandhira allegedly suggested that Priya’s marriage to Sanjay was troubled and lacked legitimacy, a claim Priya has strongly objected to.

What is Mandhira Kapur Smith saying?

When HT City reached out to Mandhira for her response, she firmly denied all allegations. “All of what I reported is mentioned in court. How am I defaming? Anything I have lied about, let me know, because I can guarantee I’ve lied about nothing,” she reported.

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Mandhira also claimed she first heard about the defamation case through social media. “The funny thing is, the media got it before me! These are all tactics to distract me from what is going on,” she added, stating that she has yet to receive any official notice.

Why is the family in court?

The defamation case is unfolding alongside a much larger and bitter dispute over Sanjay Kapur’s estimated Rs 30,000 crore estate. Members of Sanjay’s family, including his mother Rani, his ex-wife Karisma Kapoor, and their children, are locked in a legal battle with Priya over ownership and inheritance.

Mandhira says the situation has taken an emotional toll on her mother. “I sit with my mother every day, and she says, ‘get everything back, your father (Surinder Kapoor) and I built this’ It’s horrible, what our family is going through,” she shared. “There’s nothing I can do if Priya is upset. I don’t blame her for being upset, but it is the truth.”

Why speak up now?

When asked why she chose to speak publicly only after Sanjay died in 2025, Mandhira brushed aside suggestions of vested interests. “Let them say what they want to,” she mentioned. “We are going to fight for what is my mother’s first while she is alive. Everything was meant to be in her name, and that’s what my dad wanted.”

Where does Karisma Kapoor stand?

Mandhira revealed that she remains in close contact with Karisma Kapoor and her children, Samaaira and Kiaan. “The kids have lost their finest friend. My mother lost her son,” she mentioned, adding that the dispute is not just about capital, but also about preserving her father’s legacy.

Priya Kapur was contacted for a response, but there was no reply at the time this story went live.

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Shiwani

Shiwani works as a Senior Sub Editor at India.com, covering entertainment and lifestyle. With a strong background in media, she is a true cinema buff who loves keeping up with the latest in pop cultur ... Read More

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Karisma Kapoor Sanjay Kapur willKarisma KapoorMandhira Kapur SmithPriya KapurSanjay Kapur

Mandhira Kapur responds to Priya Kapur’s defamation suit, says ‘I didn’t lie’ as family legal battle intensifies