Valentine’s day is just around the corner and love can be felt in the air. People are planning to go that extra mile to express their love in the best way possible. Many couples will be seen enjoying the most romantic day of the year supposedly. While the day is not a competition of who did it best, it may seem like some people try too hard for V-Day on 14th Feb every year.

3 years ago, a Gurgaon-based entrepreneur, Shakul Gupta (26-year-old then) had offered himself up for ‘boyfriend on rent’ services. Shakul posted on Facebook and made it known that he will be renting himself out and even offered packages on Valentine’s day.

While sharing his thoughts about why he took this step Shakul said, ‘I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life. I just want someone to say ‘yes’ to me, just once! If the word ‘rejection’ had a synonym, it’d be my name, ‘Shakul!’ It was sad watching my friends date and suddenly have to hang out by myself. I feel for those who’ve been single all their lives, how much can one love themselves?’

What started as an experiment in 2018 has once again made news in 2021 and Shakul is out in the market once again. For the past 3 years on Feb 14, he has been a ‘Boyfriend on Rent’. He put up a post online that reads, “I’m a generous and open-minded man. I can give you my shoulder to lean on or be your friend this V-Day”.

So far he has met 45 women and he says the experience has been ‘enriching’ overall. All he wants to have is a good time with the other person and for that, he is ready to do cutesy things like cooking for them, taking them out for drives, singing for them.

Shakul believes that there are women like him out there who also want companionship. This notion encouraged him to start putting himself out there as a ‘boyfriend on rent’.