‘Sushmita Sen Is A Gold-Digger’: Ex Boyfriend Vikram Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra & Others Defend ‘Arya’Actor

New Delhi: Sushmita Sen has been a target of trolls ever since IPL founder and businessman Lalit Modi announced that the actress and he are dating. Many have even labelled Sushmita a ‘gold digger’ for dating Lalit. On Monday, Sushmita’s ex-boyfriend and filmmaker Vikram Bhatt came to her defence, arguing that she is “the last person who checks out bank balances before she decides to fall in love”.

Bhatt and Sushmita dated in the mid-1990s after she became Miss Universe in 1994. Sushmita made her Bollywood with ‘Dastak’ in 1996, written by Bhatt.

Speaking with India Today about Sushmita being called a gold digger, Vikram said, “Sushmita is a love digger, not a gold digger. I think making fun of other people’s life is entertainment. Someone’s tragedy is someone’s entertainment, that’s always there. When Kareena [Kapoor] married Saif [Ali Khan], even she was trolled. So, I think it goes with the territory, if you are a celebrity and if there is a decision of yours which seems funny to netizens, they start trolling.”

The filmmaker added that based on his experience, Sushmita did not look at things like a bank balance before entering into a relationship. He recalled, “I was penniless. I was directing Ghulam, but I had no money. I will not forget that Sushmita was the person who first took me to the US, and she paid for my trip. I had no money. When we reached Los Angeles and there was a limousine, and I was surprised. She said that she wanted to make my entry in the US very special.”

Reacting to the ‘gold digger’ tag on Sunday, Sushmita wrote on Instagram. “The friends I never had & the acquaintances I’ve never met….all sharing their grand opinions & deep knowledge of my life & character…monetising the ‘Gold Digger’ all the way!!! Ah these geniuses!!! I dig deeper than Gold…and I’ve always (famously) preferred Diamonds!! And yes I still buy them myself,” part of her note read.

The celebrities who have come came out in support of her include Priyanka Chopra, Neha Dhupia and Ranveer Singh. Priyanka Chopra reacted to Sushmita Sen’s Instagram post and wrote, “Tell em queen! (sic).” Ranveer Singh dropped multiple hearts in the comment section whereas Neha Dhupia penned, “Sush (sic).”