Lalit Modi, former IPL chairman, has once again come to the defence of actor, entrepreneur and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, rejecting accusations that the actor was drawn to him because of his wealth. In a recent interview with Humans of Bombay, Modi dismissed the “gold digger” narrative that appeared after the pair went public with their relationship in 2022.
During the interview, he addressed the criticism that surfaced after the two made their relationship public in 2022. He insisted that Sen was financially independent and bore her own expenses.
Taking a dig at critics, Modi said that contrary to the beliefs about Sen’s “gold digger” label, he was the one who was a “diamond digger” because she never let him pay for anything. He said, “She has more diamonds than anybody I know on this planet. She paid for everything herself. People don’t know the truth.”
The former IPL chairman went on to joke about the reality of their relationship, saying, “I was like a kept boyfriend”.
Addressing the backlash Sen went through when their relationship became public in July 2022, Modi said that he never really understood the logic behind tagging Sen as a “gold digger”. Modi expressed that people who labelled her a gold digger ignored her achievements as an actor, entrepreneur and former Miss Universe winner.
Over the years, Sen’s relationship with luxury has been closely tied to self-acquired diamonds and her association with the fine-jewellery business, reinforcing her image as a self-made luxury consumer rather than someone whose wealth is defined by association.
Empire That Sen Dominates
According to a 2022 report by Lifestyle Asia, Sen’s estimated net worth stands at approximately ₹100 crore. This figure doesn’t come off as a surprise because she has built a luxury portfolio spanning her wide filmography, successful streaming projects such as Aarya, brand endorsements, real estate, diamonds and high end automobiles.
Beyond the screen, the former Miss Universe has long been associated with Dubai based Renee Jewellers, a luxury diamond brand and has frequently spoken about buying her own diamonds rather than waiting for them to be gifted.
She also handles marketing and branding for Renee Jewellers. In 1999, the brand opened its flagship boutique at Wafi Mall in Dubai, under the patronage of Sheikh Khawla Lootah Al Qassimi. While Neeraj is a third-generation jeweller, Subhra is the lead creator.
While the value of her jewellery holdings remains undisclosed, her enduring relationship with the fine-jewellery space has become a defining aspect of both her luxury image and entrepreneurial journey, according to media reports.
The Lalit Modi–Sushmita Sen Equation
The couple attracted attention in 2022 when Modi shared photos with Sen from a vacation on social media and revealed their relationship. The posts quickly went viral and triggered widespread speculation about their relationship. That’s not all, Modi had also changed his Instagram bio and added ‘my love’ followed by Sen’s Instagram handle.
“Just back in London after a whirling global tour #maldives # sardinia with the families – not to mention my #better looking partner @sushmitasen47 – a new beginning a new life finally. Over the moon. In love does not mean marriage YET. BUT ONE THAT For sure.” He also tweeted, “Just for clarity. Not married – just dating each other. That too it will happen one day,” Modi captioned the photographs he shared with Sen on Instagram.
In the days that followed, Sen responded to critics through a strongly worded social media post, pushing back against the scrutiny surrounding her personal choices.
Where Their Relationship Stands
At present, both Modi and Sen have not publicly discussed the current status of their relationship in detail. However, Modi’s latest remarks have once again drawn attention to a chapter of their lives that came under intense scrutiny after they went public in 2022.
