Lalit Modi reveals why Sushmita Sen and him broke up, says she's very special: 'We were arguing about something on the plane..'

Nearly four years after sparking widespread curiosity with their viral social media photos, businessman and former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has finally opened up about his relationship with actress Sushmita Sen. Speaking candidly about their time together, he confirmed that they were indeed in a relationship and revealed that geographical distance eventually led to their separation.

Lalit reflected warmly on Sushmita, describing her as one of the most significant people in his life. He clarified that there was no bitterness or major conflict behind their breakup. Instead, the challenges of maintaining a relationship across continents gradually took a toll, with Sushmita rooted in India and Lalit based in London.

Sharing his thoughts on their bond, he said, “Sushmita was very special to me, she made me grow into a lot of things that I am today, and was extremely special. She was very much part of my life at that time, and would have been. It was just the distances were too much for us. Her career was India, my life was in London. But it was a very, very special relationship, and I have the fondest memories of her. And she’s still a very, very dear friend of mine. And I just wish her all the best. She’s an amazing lady and what she has done for two girls, Rene and Alisah — it’s amazing. She is a very special lady," he said in an interview with Humans Of Bombay.

Praising Sushmita further, Lalit also spoke about her journey as a mother and the values instilled by her family. “Her parents are very special, and she as a single mother, has done a tremendous job in her life. And I sit in amazement and look at her, how she grows and grows and grows. And I just wish her all the best."

Their relationship first grabbed headlines in July 2022 when Lalit shared a series of vacation photographs featuring Sushmita. The images quickly went viral, dominating online conversations and prompting intense speculation about the nature of their relationship.

During the interview, Lalit also addressed the social media post that set the internet abuzz. According to him, Sushmita was aware of his intention to share the pictures and never objected to it. Recalling the moment, he said, “I did it right there in front of her. She didn’t think I’d do it. We were arguing about something on the plane. I said, ‘you know, I’m going to post this’. She was like, ‘ha, ha, ha’. And I pressed the button. We were in Sardinia, and she was going back to London to see her mother. And I was flying to drop her back. By the time we landed, all had broken loose. But that was all right. There was nothing wrong with it. She didn’t say anything of it. Didn’t say ‘take it down’."

Talking about their break-up, Lalit said that the distance was too much for them as her career was in India and his life was in London.

His remarks offer a rare glimpse into a relationship that attracted enormous public attention, while also underscoring the mutual respect and friendship that continue to exist between the two even after their romance ended.