Businessman Lalit Modi has opened up about his past relationship with Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen, strongly rejecting claims that the actress was with him for financial reasons.In a recent interview with Humans of Bombay, Lalit Modi addressed the criticism that surfaced after the two made their relationship public in 2022. He insisted that Sen was financially independent and often paid her own expenses, saying the public perception about their relationship was far from reality.ALSO READ: 'Was raped by 600-700 different men, put a cigarette...': UK MP reads horrific grooming gang testimonies in ParliamentLalit Modi Rejects 'Gold Digger' LabelSpeaking about the backlash Sen faced when their relationship became public, Modi said he never understood why she was targeted with the "gold digger" tag. According to him, the actress was financially secure long before they began dating and did not rely on him for money.ALSO READ: Petrol, Diesel price changed today on June 2?He said: "She has more diamonds than anybody I know on this planet. She paid for everything herself. People don't know the truth." He added that the criticism directed at Sen was unfair and based on assumptions rather than facts.— choga_don (@choga_don) 'I Was Like a Kept Boyfriend'The former IPL chairman went a step further and joked that the reality of their relationship was the opposite of what many people believed. Recalling their time together, he said: "I was like a kept boyfriend."He explained that Sen frequently paid for meals, travel and other expenses, leaving him puzzled by the narrative that she was interested in his wealth.Relationship Became Public in 2022The couple grabbed headlines in July 2022 when Modi shared photos with Sen on social media and referred to her as his "better half." The posts quickly went viral and triggered widespread speculation about their relationship. While many fans congratulated the pair, others questioned Sen's intentions, leading to the "gold digger" accusations that dominated social media discussions at the time.Soon after, Sen clarified that she was neither married nor engaged and was simply in a relationship.Sushmita Sen Had Responded EarlierBack when the controversy erupted, Sen responded to critics through a strongly worded social media post. Without naming anyone directly, she dismissed the remarks made about her and defended her personal choices.Her response was widely praised by supporters, many of whom argued that successful women are often judged unfairly for their relationships.Lalit Modi Says Public Got It WrongDuring the interview, Modi maintained that people created a false image of their relationship without knowing the facts. He reiterated that Sen was independent, successful and capable of taking care of herself long before they met.According to him, those who labelled her a gold digger ignored her achievements as an actress, entrepreneur and former Miss Universe winner.Where Things Stand NowNeither Modi nor Sen has publicly discussed the current status of their relationship in detail. However, Modi's latest remarks have once again brought attention to the intense scrutiny the pair faced after going public.