Diljit Dosanjh did not pay dance group during ‘Dil-Luminati’ tour? LA-based choreographer calls‘Chamkila’ star ‘disappointing’

Punjabi pop sensation Diljit Dosanjh is hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons despite his ‘Dil-Luminati’ tour being a runaway success. A dance group that performed on the tour, has now accused the ‘Chamkila’ star of non-payment of dues.

Taking to Instagram, choreographer Rajat Batta mourned how despite overcoming institutional obstacles, the desi dance community is still undervalued and struggle to get their dues. “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 Diluminati Tour were not paid and just expected to perform for free...(sic)” he wrote.

He added, “Desi Dance as an industry has become a lifeblood for artists and do a significant part in the entire ecosystem of the industry... while its choreography, stage performances, music videos, reels, to even promoting songs... It's an essential part of the production and it's 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 (sic)...”


He concluded the post by tagging the singer and wrote that though he was happy about his success, he was also disappointed that the dance troupe was not included in the production budget and was not paid.

Dancers React

Responding to Batta’s post, some dancers said that it was an honour to serve the community and represent the Punjabi culture on a global scale. The post further read, “Each performance is a tribute to our virsa, preserving the pure folk bhangra traditions we hold dear. Sharing our art form on such a prestigious platform is an invaluable reward in itself.”

They emphasized that their decision to perform was voluntary and expressed gratitude to Diljit for the opportunity. "While we appreciate the concern, we do not wish to be represented by those who don't understand our relationship, motivations, sacrifices, and the immense value we place on such experiences. We are proud of our participation and the new opportunities it has opened for the Punjabi community. Do not try to break our bond. We stand united." The post was signed by "All The Bhangra Teams & Captains." Interestingly, while the post does not explicitly state whether they were paid, it heavily implies that the dancers were promised only "opportunities" and did not receive any remuneration for their time and efforts on stage. Diljit’s manager, Sonali Singh, has been reposting the statement, particularly highlighting the paragraph stating that the dancers "do not wish to be represented by those who don't understand our relationship."

Dosanjh has not reacted to the statement yet.