The glittery world of shimmering bodies… but what is life really like for the Moscow men taking their clothes off for a living?.

When night falls their day begins – dozens of men from all across Russia and abroad work at this nightclub for ladies “Egoist”.

There are strippers to satisfy all tastes – blonde and dark-haired, tall and stocky, some wearing national costumes and others almost naked.

But their life story is pretty much the same. All of them have been enthralled by the glitz and glamour of the Russian capital.

Real life story

Eduard Krivenko, who’s now working as a stripper, came to Moscow to study at drama school, to get to know people in the world of cinema. His dream is to become an actor.

“I want to play different roles, both entertaining and serious. But life in the big city was not easy, I had no money and spent nights in railway stations, sleeping on benches. Then I met a woman by chance in a shopping mall who advised me to become a stripper,” Eduard said.

Eduard won the Mister Russia contest last year, but he continues doing his night shifts at the club, where he's one of the top dancers. His body, after years of sports training and dance classes, is what attracts the club's guests.

Men with bodies like Apollo are dancing almost naked to entertain women. The most eager ladies can even take these strippers home. And this is not a fantasy – everything's for real! This reality has become the subject of a new film.

Secrets revealed in new movie

“The Moscow Gigolo” is the story of a retired serviceman who comes to Moscow from Siberia in search of a better life. But there he finds out that his only chance to survive in the capital is to accept his friend's proposal of work as a stripper.

“The Moscow Gigolo” film poster

Actor Sergey Gorobchenko, who plays the lead role, says he has never considered stripping as an option.

“Being a stripper was a good acting experience for me, but I would never even consider choosing this kind of a profession in real life. These men are not just dancing, they sell themselves on their own initiative! It's dreadful and incomprehensible to me!” the actor said.

But another man featured in the film, stripper, singer and actor Sergey Glushko, better known as Tarzan in Russia, sees nothing wrong with it.

He was only given a small part as a nightclub owner and is pretty upset about it.

“I had a row with the director! Why did he invite me to play such a part when the main character's role is absolutely my story? When I first came to shooting he said ”Wow, our script has so much in common with your life!«… So why on earth am I not playing it? I should have been the lead actor, and they've just stolen my story,» Tarzan complained.

Women's opinions differ

Many attended the premiere, seeing nothing wrong in putting strip dancers on the big screen.

Young women say that it looks beautiful and sexy – so why not! Older ladies say it’s acceptable – but not in their own lives:

“I don't think being a stripper disgraces men.  But I wouldn't like my son, husband or someone dear to me to choose this profession,” a woman said.

The film makers point out the fictional story is not about the profession of the main character, but is all about feelings.

“Our film is very romantic! It's a tragical and deliberate story, and it's all about love in the first place, I'm sure!” said actress Olesya Sudzilovskaya, who stars in the film.

They meet and fall in love and after going through different ordeals live happily ever after.

Strippers know public opinion is not on their side. But they have their clients, say it's all for the sake of entertainment and suggest you don't judge it before you try it.