This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of two leading private life insurance companies in India—ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and HDFC Life Insurance—over a five-year period from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. The research examines four critical performance indicators: number of policies issued, income generation, market share, and claim settlement ratio. Utilizing secondary data from annual reports, IRDAI publications, and industry databases, the study reveals significant insights into customer behavior patterns and organizational performance. Findings indicate that both insurers demonstrated resilience during the pandemic period, with ICICI Prudential maintaining leadership in policy volume while HDFC Life showed superior claim settlement ratios. The study contributes to understanding competitive dynamics in India's rapidly evolving life insurance sector and provides actionable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and consumers.