A single social media post was enough for Lalit Modi and Sushmita Sen to dominate online conversations in 2022. When the businessman posted intimate photos with the actor and declared they were in a relationship, social media erupted. Lalit has now disclosed that he shared the pictures and made their relationship public after a disagreement with Sushmita. He also discussed how the actor responded to his decision.
Lalit Modi on his viral post about Sushmita Sen
In a podcast interaction with Humans of Bombay, Lalit Modi opened up about his decision to make his relationship with Sushmita Sen public through a social media post.
In 2022, Lalit Modi used social media to share photos of himself and Sushmita from a vacation. He also updated his Instagram bio to include the words ‘my love’ along with Sushmita’s Instagram handle. He uploaded the pictures with a caption that said, “Just back in London after a whirlwind 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. Being in love does not mean marriage yet, but it is definitely something serious.”
Speaking about the post, Lalit Modi said, “I remember we were on a plane. I wrote it (the post) while sitting next to her. We were arguing about something during the flight, and I told her, ‘I’m going to post this.’ She laughed and said ‘hahahaha’, and then I hit the button. We were flying back to London from Sardinia. She was returning to London to visit her mother.”
In the course of the conversation, Lalit Modi also spoke up for Sushmita, rejecting the “gold digger” label that emerged after their relationship became public in 2022. Lalit said, “Please understand that Sushmita is an extremely beautiful and very affluent woman. She owns more diamonds than anyone else I know in the world, and she acquired them through her own efforts. She even owns diamond stores. So, she is a very rich woman who has achieved everything independently. Not once, when I went out with Sushmita, did I have to pay for anything; she covered all the expenses. I felt like a kept boyfriend.”
More about Sushmita Sen and Lalit Modi
Following the first post in 2022, Lalit Modi and Sushmita shared an update to dismiss the marriage rumours. In another tweet, Lalit Modi wrote, “Just for clarity. Not married - just dating each other. That too it will happen one day," his post read. After Lalit's post, Sushmita shared a photo with her daughters – Renee Sen and Alisah Sen. She wrote, “I am in a happy place!! Not married...No rings...Unconditionally surrounded by love. Enough clarifications given...now back to life & work!! Thank you for sharing in my happiness always...and for those who don't...its #NYOB Anyway!!! I love you Guys #duggadugga #yourstruly.”
However, the relationship was short-lived. Speculation about a split between Lalit Modi and Sushmita Sen began circulating and intensified after Lalit Modi deleted all posts related to the actor from his social media accounts. In 2025, he confirmed that they had broken up. The IPL founder and former chairman then took to Instagram to share a video montage introducing his new partner, Rima Bouri.