India, June 3 -- N early four years after Lalit Modi's relationship with actor Sushmita Sen made headlines, the businessman has addressed the criticism that followed, defending the former Miss Universe against the "gold digger" label that surfaced online after they went public in 2022. Speaking on the Humans of Bombay podcast, Modi reflected on their relationship, revealing that the two eventually parted ways because of long distance, though they remain close friends. "She was very much a part of my life at that time," he said, adding that Sen continues to be "a dear friend". Addressing the backlash Sen faced, Modi insisted that money was never a factor in their relationship. "There wasn't a single time that I went out with Sushmita that I had to pay for anything. She paid for everything. I was like a kept boyfriend," he said. Calling Sen a self-made and independent woman, Modi added, "When somebody says she was a gold digger, Lalit was a diamond digger. She was truly a diamond. It was never about money." In July 2022, Modi surprised social media users by announcing his relationship with Sen through a series of vacation photographs. The post quickly went viral, triggering widespread discussion and speculation about the couple's relationship. HTC...