The relationship between former IPL chairman Lalit Modi and Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen became one of the most talked-about celebrity stories in 2022 after Modi publicly confirmed their romance on social media. Nearly four years later, the businessman has opened up about what ultimately led to their separation, revealing that distance played a decisive role in ending their relationship.
Speaking on the Humans of Bombay podcast, Lalit Modi reflected on his time with Sushmita Sen and described her as someone who had a profound impact on his life. According to him, the relationship was meaningful and remains one of the most cherished chapters of his personal journey.
“Sushmita was very special to me,” Modi said, adding that she contributed significantly to his personal growth and remained an important part of his life during that period. However, he explained that maintaining the relationship became increasingly difficult because they were based in different countries.
Modi noted that while Sen’s professional commitments and life were centred in India, he was living in London. The geographical distance, he said, eventually became too challenging for the couple to sustain their relationship. Despite the breakup, he stressed that he continues to hold deep respect and affection for the former Miss Universe and considers her a dear friend.
During the conversation, Modi also spoke warmly about Sen’s personal life and praised her role as a mother. He commended the actor for raising her two daughters as a single parent and described her as an inspiring woman who has navigated life with remarkable strength and independence. He also expressed admiration for her family, particularly her parents, whom he called “very special.”
The businessman further addressed the criticism and online commentary that surfaced when their relationship first became public. At the time, Sen faced trolling and was labelled a “gold digger” by some social media users — a claim Modi firmly rejected once again during the interview.
Defending the actor, Modi highlighted her financial success and self-made journey, insisting that she never depended on anyone for money. He described Sen as a wealthy and accomplished woman who built her career independently and said she was known for paying her own expenses whenever they spent time together.
In a light-hearted remark, Modi joked that he often felt like the “kept boyfriend” because Sen insisted on paying for outings. He maintained that their relationship had nothing to do with wealth and was built on mutual respect and affection.
Calling her a “self-made lady,” Modi said Sen would never accept financial support from anyone and reiterated that the public perception surrounding their relationship was far from reality. He even quipped that if anyone was a “digger,” it was him, adding that Sen was “truly a diamond.”
Sushmita Sen, who was last seen in the acclaimed 2023 streaming series Taali, has not publicly commented on Modi’s latest remarks. However, his candid reflections have once again brought their high-profile relationship back into the spotlight, sparking renewed interest among fans and entertainment watchers.
