There has been a renewed controversy surrounding singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour, with dancer Shilpa Sajan alleging mistreatment and non-payment by the tour’s management during the Europe leg. Shilpa, who was excited about the opportunity, took to Instagram to share her experience, expressing her frustration over the lack of professionalism, low pay, and the disrespect faced by dancers.
Despite being aware of similar complaints from dancers during Diljit’s North America tour earlier this year, Shilpa accepted the role, believing her situation would be different. She was promised payment but soon realized that the offered £80 wasn’t sufficient to cover even basic expenses, especially considering she had to arrange her own accommodation and international travel. This, she said, left her in an unsustainable position.
In her post, Shilpa described the management as chaotic and unresponsive, with dancers often being dismissed at the last minute and insufficient rehearsals impacting the performances. She also emphasized the broader issues within the industry, where dancers are treated as “objects” and not given the respect they deserve.
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Many Instagram users came out in support of Shilpa, praising her for standing up for herself. Several comments pointed out that this kind of exploitation is common, with artists often being taken advantage of under the guise of “exposure.” Others expressed disappointment in Diljit, especially since he frequently emphasizes how much he invests in his shows. Another user said, “Thank you for valuing yourself & your skill above these 5 mins of clout! I’ve been in the exact same position and completely understand this ❤️ sad how an artist of this level can get away with this. I would say the terrible dancing standard we’ve seen in the UK/Europe tour so far shows how important it is to make better managerial decisions but they don’t seem to care about the level of professionalism at all ♀️”
Despite this backlash, Diljit’s Dil-Luminati tour continues, with sold-out shows planned across India, beginning on October 26 in New Delhi and concluding in Guwahati on December 29. However, the allegations surrounding the tour’s management have sparked an important conversation about fair treatment and payment in the entertainment industry.