New Delhi: Joking with clients and colleagues, Mehrunnisha Shokat Ali might be mistaken for any other patron of Social, a nightclub in the Indian capital’s swanky Hauz Khas neighbourhood.
But the intent gaze of her kohl-rimmed eyes, as she stands on the edge of the dance floor in an all-black outfit, watching couples bob and twirl, gives away her real occupation.
She is Social’s famous female bouncer.
Mehrunnisha has been a bouncer for nearly a decade, and for the last three years, has done 10-hour night shifts at Social.
Now Mehrunnisha is expert in breaking up bar fights, frisking female customers and uncovering illegal drugs.
“We decided to employ women to make sure women customers too felt safe, and we found a great match in Mehrunnisha,” said Social’s owner, Riyaaz Amlani.
He added that she had helped defuse innumerable alcohol-fuelled quarrels.
“She was fierce and determined, and the rest is history,” he said.
The 30-year-old’s career highlights include being part of the security detail for Bollywood actresses such as Priyanka Chopra, of the US drama series Quantico, Pretty Zinta and Vidya Balan.
Mehrunnisha is no stranger to smashing stereotypes.
Only her mother’s insistence allowed her to further her education beyond primary school.
But when her father’s stock market losses forced the family to move to the capital, Mehrunnisha, still in college, became the breadwinner for a household consisting of parents,
two sisters, and her elder sister’s three children, besides herself.
“Several times my brother has asked me, what sort of a job is this?” Mehrunnisha said, recounting how difficult it had been to get her family to accept her night shifts.
“But this does not affect me, because my mother and father have faith and confidence in me, and I know I am not doing anything wrong.”
Her younger sister, Tarannum, 27, also works as a bouncer at a bar just a five-minute walk from her own workplace.
Together, they earn 30000 rupees (R6000) a month.
They take pride in their vocation, spending up to an hour at the gym each day to build their strength, and even working through holidays.
“It’s not an easy job,” Mehrunnisha said. “Taking care of people, especially women in a club, is a very big responsibility.”
Customers seem to agree.
“If I come here and I see a female bouncer, I feel a lot safer,” said a regular patron at Social, Nikita Lamba.
“Mehrunnisha is pretty kick-ass. She is good at what she does”.