Vikram Bhatt Recalls Financial Struggles While Dating Sushmita Sen: ‘I Had No Money’

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has spoken candidly about one of the most difficult phases of his life, revealing that despite directing major films and dating former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, he was battling severe financial hardship.

In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Bhatt looked back at the mid-1990s, when he was transitioning from being an assistant to filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt to establishing himself as a director. It was during this period that he met Sushmita Sen on the sets of her debut film, Dastak, and the two began a relationship.

‘I Was Broke’

Recalling those years, Bhatt said his glamorous public image stood in stark contrast to his financial reality.

“I was a struggling director. Mere paas zeher khane ke paise nahi the (I didn’t even have money to buy poison). I was directing Aamir Khan and dating Miss Universe, but I had no money. I was broke,” he said.

The filmmaker added that there were times when he could not even afford basic purchases.

“I remember I didn’t even have the money to buy a CD. I’ve lived life like a fakira,” he said.

Relationships Came and Went, Films Stayed

Bhatt and Sushmita eventually parted ways after a few years. He later dated actor Ameesha Patel between 2002 and 2007 after working together on **Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage>.

Reflecting on his journey, Bhatt observed that while personal relationships may not have lasted, his films have continued to resonate with audiences over the years.

Ongoing Legal Battle

The filmmaker’s remarks come amid legal troubles that emerged in late 2025. Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Soni, were arrested over allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust linked to a film project.

While their bail plea was initially rejected by the Rajasthan High Court, the couple secured relief after the Supreme Court granted them bail in February 2026.

Responding to the allegations, Bhatt dismissed the accusations and maintained his innocence.

“All I can say is that it is nonsense. They have not been able to prove anything in the chargesheet. It is the most bizarre chargesheet. But the matter is now before the court. I would rather let the court defend me. I have faith that the truth will come out,” he said.

Upcoming Release

On the professional front, Bhatt is preparing for the release of Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past, also referred to as Haunted 2. The horror thriller stars Mimoh Chakraborty and Chetna Pande and is scheduled to hit theatres on June 12.