Bollywood star and Miss Universe Sushmita Sen on marriage and why she won't settle for less

Dubai: Bollywood actress and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen has never been one to conform, and when it comes to marriage, she’s just as selective.

During a recent Instagram live session, the Main Hoon Na actress candidly addressed her thoughts on tying the knot, making it clear that she’s open to marriage—if the right person comes along.

"I want to get married too," she said, responding to a fan’s question. "But there has to be someone worthy of marriage, right? It doesn’t just happen. As they say, it’s a bond of the heart, and the feeling should reach the heart first. Then, I’ll get married too.”

In another session with her fans, she reminded them she's not a parking ticket which needs validation through marriage.

"I don't want to fit in ... I want to be me. Life grooms you and if you can hold onto your beliefs long enough, rejection will turn into acceptance. That's the one thing I have seen in my life repeatedly ... Never reject yourself in the hope for outside acceptance. Be true to yourself," said Sen in another interview.

Sushmita’s personal life has often been in the spotlight. She was previously in a much-talked-about relationship with Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Modi made their romance Instagram-official by sharing vacation pictures and even updating his bio to include her name. However, rumors of a split surfaced when he later removed all references to Sushmita from his profile. He eventually confirmed their breakup by introducing his new partner.

Before that, the Aarya star was in a relationship with model-actor Rohmann Shawl for three years. Their breakup in 2021 was amicable, with Sushmita announcing it via a heartfelt Instagram post: “We began as friends, we remain friends!!! The relationship was long over… the love remains!!!”

On the professional front, Sushmita was last seen in Aarya Season 3, the critically acclaimed thriller series where she plays the fierce titular character. While her fans eagerly await her next move, one thing is certain—whether in life or love, Sushmita Sen isn’t settling for anything less than extraordinary.