A Chinese shopping mall came in the news for offering “girlfriend” rental services. At the time it seemed kind of funny, especially since some women had reportedly hired these girlfriends to help with their children and their homework.
A simple google search led me to the boy|friend rental website and their social media handles. And turns out, their entire business pitch is hinged on being a “cure” to depression. Oh, yes. They did that.
The service was founded by 29-year-old Kaushal Prakash claims he himself “was a victim of depression 3 years ago.”
Kaushal, who is an interior decorator-turned-entrepreneur by profession, believes he has found the cause of depression. He says, “it’s very simple. A depressed person wishes that someone would listen to what they have to say and understand them. It’s no rocket science.”
As of now, their services are offered only in Mumbai and Pune, where you get to pick from 6 handsome young hunks ranging in age from 22 to 25 and with enviable six-pack abs.
According to DNA, Rent a Boy|Friend offers you 3 types of “boy|friends”. The man behind the brand explains it as such, “i have all a-grade models. You can rent a celebrity for ₹3,000, or a model for up to ₹2,000, or an aam aadmi (commoner) for just ₹300-400 per hour.”
