What really ended Sushmita Sen-Lalit Modi's relationship? He reveals breakup reason

Businessman Lalit Modi said "distance" was the reason behind his breakup with actor and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. The IPL founder opened up on the nature of his friendship with the actor and highlighted that their lives are rooted in entirely different places.

In an interview on the Humans of Bombay podcast, the 62-year-old strongly defended Sen against 'gold digger' claims, stressing her financial independence. He emphasised that she would pay for everything whenever they went out together. Speaking about the split, Modi said, "Sushmita was very special to me. She made me grow into a lot of things that I am today. She was extremely special. She was very much part of my life at that time and would have been (even today) But it was just that the distance was too much for us."

"Her career was in India, and my life was in London. But it was a very special relationship. I have the fondest memories of her. She is still a very dear friend of mine, and I just wish her all the best," he added.

Modi and Sen's images in 2022 sparked dating rumours. While the two never spoke about the same, Sen later called out the sexist narrative being built around her. In a sarcastically-worded note on social media, the 50-year-old earlier wrote, "I dig deeper than gold... and I've always (famously) preferred diamonds! And yes, I still buy them myself (sic)."

Modi referred to the same scrutiny and the labels that Sushmita Sen had to endure at the time. He described her as a "very wealthy lady" who achieved success entirely on her own. Dismissing any misconceptions about her lifestyle, he emphasised that she earned her immense wealth independently, even joking that she owns "more diamonds than anybody" he knows.

"Was like a kept boyfriend"

To highlight her self-reliance, Modi shared that she took care of all their expenses whenever they went out together. He humorously added, "There wasn't a time when we went out, and I had to pay for anything, she paid for everything. I was like a kept boyfriend."

Praising her as a "self-made lady," Modi added, "She will never accept anything from anybody. So when somebody says she was a gold digger, Lalit was a diamond digger. She was truly a diamond."

In 2023, Sushmita referred to her relationship with Lalit Modi as 'just another phase' during an interview with Mid-Day. The actor, who won the first Miss Universe pageant for India in 1994, has been an active part of the film industry. She has also worked on popular OTT series Aarya and Taali.

She is a celebrated single mother who adopted two daughters - Renee in 2000 and Alisah in 2010. Sushmita was just 24 when she adopted Renee, and has often recalled how her then manager quit and "ran away", believing she would no longer find work in the film industry after becoming a mother at such a young age.

She has not announced her next project yet.