An application to rent a boyfriend and cure depression

Stepping into the footsteps of China and Japan, now India too has a 'rent a friend' platform, but only 'boyfriends' are up for grabs on rent. Rent A Boy Friend (RABF) is an application launched by a Mumbai boy in a bid to cure depression often seen in people due to loneliness. However, the psychologists have shot down the idea of curing a mental illness just by providing a companion service.

In the month of August, Kaushall Prakash, a 29year-old young entrepreneur and an interior designer from Mumbai, launched the mobile application with the controversial name ‘Rent A Boy Friend’. The aim of the app is to help lonely people overcome their depression by having a partner by their side for a day. The application, which was launched on Independence Day, boasts that their app can help you get freedom from sadness, loneliness and depression.

The users can choose from three categories of boyfriends to rent, who are all selected by the RABF team via online auditions: The celebrity boyfriends, who can be rented for ₹3,000 per hour; the models boyfriends who can be rented for ₹2,000 and the average, everyday men who can be rented for up to ₹400 per hour.

However, the claims made by the founders of this application were rubbished by the doctors who are of opinion that if depression was to be cured simply by companionship, why would a doctor study for years together to get a degree?

Dr Devika Bhrama, a psychiatrist said, “This is a sham. Mental health is not a game to play with. It has to be handled and dealt with utmost care. The services that the RABF is offering to ‘depression-stricken’ patients might just push them over the ledge.”

A senior police officer of Mumbai police said requesting confidentiality, “The platform offered by the said application might also take a wrong turn. This also stands a chance to increase the crime rate in the city. One should always be careful while using such applications and sharing their interpersonal details.”

The founder, Prakash, claims the men who register as boyfriends will undergo a background check for any past criminal record to avoid any untoward incident. The team of RABF also has qualified mental health professionals available on the toll free numbers. The application also states there is thin line followed by users which implies restrictions, meaning no physicality or meetings at private places.