Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi took the Internet by storm after announcing his relationship with actress Sushmita Sen.

The 58-year-old businessman shared a mushy post on Twitter along with a series of photos, some of which dated back to the initial seasons of IPL. In the post, he addressed Sushmita Sen as his “better half,” giving rise to speculation that he has tied the knot with the “Aarya” star. However, he later clarified that the “new beginning” isn’t a marriage but he and Sen are “just dating each other.”

Also Read | Lalit Modi dating Sushmita Sen, announces ‘new beginning’ on social media

Sushmita Sen, 46, broke up with model Rohman Shawl last year. She also had been rumored to be dating Vikram Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in the past. In contrast, Lalit Modi has been very private about his past relationships and partners.

Lalit Modi married Minal Aswani on October 17, 1991, in Mumbai. The duo first met in Delhi and started dating. Minal, who died in 2018 at the age of 64 after battling cancer for a year, was the daughter of Nigeria-based Sindhi Hindu businessman, Pesu Aswani. She was also previously married to another Nigeria-based businessman, Jack Sagrani. 

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Lalit Modi was born in Delhi on November 29, 1963, into one of India’s leading business families. He is the elder son of Krishan Kumar Modi and his wife Bina Modi. Lalit Modi’s family had initially opposed the marriage as Minal was a recently divorced mother and nine years older than him. However, Modi managed to convince his grandmother Dayawati, who later talked the family into agreeing to the marriage.

The couple got married and settled in Mumbai. They initially lived in his father Krishan Kumar Modi’s apartment in Pedder Road area, but later moved to Minal’s father’s house in Juhu. They have two children – son Ruchir Modi and daughter Aliya together. Modi also has a step-daughter Karima Sagrani, from Minal’s first marriage.

Also Read | Who was Minal Modi, the late wife of Lalit Modi?

Minal was diagnosed with cancer and she moved with Modi to London. However, she lost the battle with the disease in 2018. Since Minal’s death, there had been no word on Modi’s dating life until Thursday when he announced his relationship with Sushmita Sen.