Uncover India's strongest village where Delhi's toughest bouncers are shaped by tradition and strength

Situated at the southern limit of Delhi, in the area of Chattarpur, lies Asola and Fatehpur Beri, the toughest villages in India. Famed for their tough fortitude and rigid lifestyle, Asola and Fatehpur Beri have found their place in Delhi's hectic nightlife. Tens of men from the regions work as security guards in NCR clubs, bars, and lounges. What started with local wrestler Vijay Tanwar's shift to nightclub security has become a strong tradition, with generations of villagers following in his footsteps, building up both their bodies and the capital's night-time security.



Vijay Tanwar starts the bouncer trend in his village, making it India’s strongest village


The stunning turnaround of these villages into a centre for security personnel started with Vijay Tanwar, a village wrestler who had once dreamed of competing for India at the Olympics. After falling just short of selection, Tanwar moved into nightlife security work in Delhi—a decision that would motivate generations.

“I was the first bouncer from this village,” Tanwar shared as per reports. “Then everyone followed my path.” Today, over 300 men from Asola-Fatehpur Beri are employed as bouncers across New Delhi’s nightlife venues, forming a crucial part of the city’s after-dark security infrastructure.




Villagers build strength through old-school training


In these villages, fitness is not a hobby—it's an old tradition based on discipline and intergenerational guidance. Men of all ages—ranging from rambunctious teenagers to veteran men nearing their fifties—train intensively each morning and evening at neighborhood akhadas ( traditional wrestling grounds).

Their training is a demonstration of pure determination and physical prowess. Routine mostly consists of:

• Hundred push-ups
• Rope climbing
• Lifting heavy weights like tractor tires or motorcycles
• Mud wrestling

In a widely reported feat, one man reportedly lifted a 771-pound motorcycle during a training session—underscoring the immense physical capabilities honed through these traditional methods.

Vijay Tanwar, who is now a renowned trainer, stressed the effectiveness of this traditional method: "They eat healthy and on time, they train here daily, and that's why they are so strong," he said. In contrast to contemporary gym members, these men mostly avoid supplements and processed meals, instead consuming natural, vegetarian food like milk, yogurt, fruits, and nuts.



Discipline and clean habits set the village apart


Apart from muscular power, Asola-Fatehpur Beri is distinct due to a strict adherence to a clean and disciplined way of life. Drink and tobacco are avoided, and the young ones are taught about health, discipline, and concentration at an early age. Sonu Tanwar, who is 19 and dreams of being a wrestler, epitomizes this spirit. Rising at 5 am every morning to train, he has already won multiple wrestling titles in the 66-kilogram category. "I want to be a good wrestler and make my parents proud," he told me.


The cultural roots of this lifestyle are reinforced and fostered by village elders. Guru Lekhraj, aged 75 and once a wrestler, now trains the young at the akhada. Though no longer actively involved, he is a vocal supporter of physical discipline as protection against corrosive influences. Bad behaviour happens between 17 and 27, as you know," he observed. "But if we make the child enthusiastic about physical activity and health, bad behaviour won't be an influence."




Warrior legacy of the Tanwar community shapes their strength


The fortitude of Asola-Fatehpur Beri is not merely physical but also historically and symbolically cultural. The Tanwar community, which rules these villages, has its origins in a warrior tradition of pride.

There is something of the warrior about the Tanwars," was Ankur Tanwar's analysis, who built the first village gym. According to the ET reports, when interviewed, he was quoted saying, "We struggled with the Muslim invaders. We struggled with the British. We never thought that we would work in bars.
Though most villagers are now employed as bouncers for economic security, they view the occupation as a stepping stone. A few hope to get into international security agencies, while the rest hope to find their way back to the wrestling ring. No matter the career path, the earnings from nightlife security have seen the community improve in education, housing, and healthcare.


With the growth of Delhi nightlife and demand for trustworthy, responsible security men on the rise, Asola-Fatehpur Beri is still leading this niche. The men of these villages are not only famous for their physique but also for their unrelenting dedication to a life of order, honesty, and physical perfection. Here, bodybuilding is not just a job—it is a culture. Handed down from one generation to the next, it is a tradition of strength, endurance, and pride that survives in the face of contemporary challenges.




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