Snehashish royNearly four years after his relationship with actor and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen sparked a social media frenzy, businessman and former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has come out strongly in her defence, dismissing claims that she was ever interested in his wealth. In a recent conversation with Humans of Bombay, Modi described Sushmita as a self-made and financially independent woman and even joked that he felt more like a “kept boyfriend” during their relationship.
The businessman reflected on the criticism and trolling Sushmita faced after he publicly announced their relationship in July 2022. At the time, social media was flooded with comments labelling the actor a “gold digger”, with many questioning her motives for dating Modi. The backlash became one of the most discussed celebrity controversies of that year.
Addressing those accusations, Modi said the public perception was completely misplaced. According to him, Sushmita never depended on him financially and, in fact, often paid for their outings herself. He revealed that there was not a single occasion when he had to pay for anything while spending time with her.
“There wasn’t a single time that I went out with Sushmita that I had to pay for anything. She paid for everything. I was like a kept boyfriend,” Modi said during the interview.
He went on to praise Sushmita’s success and independence, stressing that she had built her wealth through her own hard work. Modi said she owned her achievements and never relied on anyone else for financial security. He described her as a remarkable and self-made woman who would never accept anything she did not earn herself.
Defending her further, Modi remarked that Sushmita had “more diamonds than anybody” he knew and had acquired them through her own efforts. He added that she was perfectly capable of buying anything she wanted without anyone’s assistance.
In one of the interview’s most talked-about moments, Modi humorously flipped the narrative surrounding the controversy. Referring to the “gold digger” label often directed at Sushmita, he joked that if anyone deserved such a tag, it was him. “When somebody says she was a gold digger, Lalit was a diamond digger,” he said, calling Sushmita a true “diamond.”
Beyond addressing the trolling, Modi also spoke warmly about the relationship itself. He described Sushmita as someone who played an important role in his life and said she remained a dear friend even after their romantic relationship ended.
According to Modi, Sushmita helped him grow personally during a significant period of his life. He said she was “very special” to him and credited her with influencing many aspects of his personal development.
The businessman also shed light on why the relationship eventually came to an end. He explained that distance became a major challenge. While Sushmita’s professional and personal life remained centred in India, Modi continued living in London, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the relationship over time.
Their romance first became public in July 2022 when Modi shared a series of photographs with Sushmita on social media. He referred to her as his “better half” and “my love,” prompting widespread speculation that the couple had secretly married. The announcement quickly dominated headlines and social media discussions.
Sushmita later clarified that she was neither married nor engaged and dismissed the speculation with a social media post. At the time, she also responded indirectly to the criticism she received, making it clear that public assumptions about her personal life did not affect her.
Over the years, Sushmita has consistently projected an image of independence and self-reliance. After winning the Miss Universe title in 1994, she built a successful career in films and entrepreneurship while also becoming known for raising her two adopted daughters as a single mother.
The actor previously addressed the “gold digger” accusations in interviews, stating that she found the comments amusing rather than hurtful. She explained that insults only carry power if the recipient accepts them, and she chose not to do so.