BOYFRIEND ON RENT

While navigating the chaotic world of modern dating seems impossible, 'rent-a-boyfriend' and 'dating surrogate' services offer to keep you company-in exchange for a fee

- Anisha Reddy

IT was a usual Friday night in Bengaluru’s tech hub, Koramangala. Restobars with ‘Now Open’ signs beckoned passersby on the packed streets. As vehicles lined up bumper-to-bumper, several hundred 20-something-year-olds dressed in their best fits, listened to thumping music that rang long in one’s ears even once it stopped.

But in the city that never sleeps—although the bars close at 1 am—it is very easy to feel lonely. Samarth*, 23, who describes himself as an introvert, dreaded Friday nights, until he rented a girlfriend.

“’Girl-friend’ —he stresses, highlighting the often-overlooked space between the two words.

“There’s no ill intent. I simply hired a female friend,” clarifies Samarth.

Often mistaken for an escort service, ‘rent a girlfriend’ or ‘rent a boyfriend’ services have quietly taken the dating world by storm. The purpose is neither commercial nor sexual. The person ‘on rent’ accompanies the renter on a date, interacts with them, gives them company while they mindlessly shop, do errands, listen to their rants, buys them flowers or even accompany them to a funeral.

While such qualities are expected from a partner, in such cases, the service is provided in exchange for a fee.

'RENT A GIRLFRIEND' OR 'RENT A BOYFRIEND' SERVICES HAVE TAKEN THE DATING WORLD BY STORM. THE PURPOSE IS NEITHER COMMERCIAL NOR SEXUAL. 

Samarth paid Rs 5,000 for a two-hour date with Ayesha*. They went to a restobar in the city, had some beer and bar snacks and left before it got dark. Being a medical student, Samarth’s last two years were filled with shifts that routinely lasted beyond 28 hours, a chronic lack of sleep and minimal interaction with anyone except his family.