On Friday, allegations surfaced against actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh’s management for non-payment of dues to background dancers. A couple of prominent dance institute owners based in Los Angeles, Rajat Batta and Manpreet Toor, claimed that their dancers were not paid for their performances during Diljit’s recent Dil-Luminati tour across the US and Canada. These claims have stirred controversy within the Desi dance community, which feels deeply disappointed by the alleged undervaluation of Desi dancers.

Dance Institute Owners Claim Non-Payment

Rajat Batta penned a long note on Instagram expressing his disappointment. He wrote, “While we as a Desi Dance Community are really proud of a Desi Artist breaking glass ceilings and doing sold-out tours across North America… I still feel deeply disappointed that Desi Dancers are still undervalued as an industry. All of the Desi Dancers in Diljit’s Dil-Luminati Tour were not paid, and just expected to perform for free… Desi Dance as an industry has become a lifeblood for artists and does a significant part in the entire ecosystem of the industry… It’s really disappointing to see an artist of this caliber cut corners by stepping on the throats of the Desi Dancer industry and continue to attribute to that culture. Diljit, we are very happy for your success, but your dancers should have been paid and been a part of the production budget.”

Diljit’s Management Denies Allegations

Diljit’s manager, Sonali, responded to the allegations via a statement to News18. She clarified, “Our official team never contacted Rajat Batta or Manpreet Toor who are presenting false narratives on social media. Rajat and Manpreet were not part of the Dil-Luminati Tour in any way.” This statement refutes the claims made by the Los Angeles-based choreographers and dance institute owners, adding another layer to the ongoing dispute.

Despite these allegations, Diljit’s Dil-Luminati Tour continues to make headlines. The tour spans the US, Canada, Europe, and India, with Diljit already having performed across the US and Canada. One notable highlight was Diljit’s Toronto concert, where he received a personal visit from Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, further showcasing his global appeal.