New Delhi: Sunil Kumar, 32, a security guard at Vishal Mega Mart in Dwarka, has become a celebrity of sorts in his neighbourhood. Everyone is asking about his job. It all began when a massive recruitment drive conducted by Vishal Mega Mart for thousands of security guard positions across India sparked wave upon wave of memes and reels on social media.
“My job has never felt as interesting as it has over the past week. It feels good when we see reels on our phones about the place we work at, the job we do—it makes us laugh,” said Kumar, who has been working with the retail giant for five years.
The requirements and interview levels for the “dream job” were so comprehensive that people started comparing it with the UPSC. Instagram, Facebook, X, and WhatsApp were awash with memes of people rigorously training for the post, scenes from coaching centres, and elders asking young people if they had all their certificates ready—The hashtag? #VishalMegaMartChowkidarFirstAttemptFail.
ThePrint tried reaching out to Vishal Mega Mart to learn more about its hiring process. However, the company declined to provide an official response. A member of the marketing division clarified that they had no information about the recruitment drive, and that the company “did not initiate it”.
“We don’t know where it came from,” he added.
Vishal Mega Mart is a retail store chain with over 600 outlets across India. In Delhi, it has a presence in Dwarka, Shahdara, Malviya Nagar, Chattarpur, Karol Bagh, Pitampura, Mahipalpur, and Manglapuri, among other locations. According to recruitment details circulating on social media, the process reportedly includes a written exam covering current affairs and English, followed by physical training and medical examinations. There’s a preference for candidates with prior experience, martial arts skills, or firearms training.
The post blew up—so much that people began joking about preparing for Vishal Mega Mart security guard exams instead of UPSC. The meme frenzy didn’t stop there—fans even imagined their favourite cricketers, including Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli, as security guards at Vishal Mega Mart.
kohli dhoni cracked vishal mega mart guard exam💀💪🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/eZCaRowGaw
— . (@unbrokenwill45) May 17, 2025
In another viral video, the reason for Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket is jokingly attributed to his selection as a security guard at Vishal Mega Mart.
“Reason behind Virat Kohli’s retirement: Vishal Mega Mart Security Guard Bharti 2025,” the caption reads.
One user pointed out the job security that comes with the role: “When Senior Managers From Top Companies Are Getting Fired But you are not worried because you are now –Security Guard at Vishal Mega Mart”, they wrote on X.
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Competitive job market
Back in Dwarka, Sunil Kumar’s friends and relatives have started teasing him, saying that he must have seen the future and chosen the best career.
“My friend called me and asked if I could help him get a job here, too. This job has never felt this good before,” he added with a smile.
The trend is a reflection of the level of competitiveness in a crowded job market. It also kickstarted conversations with people comparing their corporate jobs, salary hikes, and busy lives with those of a Vishal Mega Mart security guard.
What life looks like
For 42-year-old Dilip Kumar, who has been working at Vishal Mega Mart since 2018, the viral memes and social media trends don’t hold much significance. He hasn’t paid attention to them because, for him, his job is the most important thing—it supports his family.
“Social media doesn’t change everyone’s life,” he said.
Even for Kumar, job satisfaction is not a priority.
“In today’s time, getting a job itself is difficult, so it’s important to do whatever work you get with honesty. Every job has its pros and cons,” he said with the tact of a diplomat. “You can’t expect every facility or comfort at every workplace.”
As a security guard, he has to stand in one place from morning till night and deal with thousands of people entering and leaving the store.
“No job is easy. Life is not what it seems in the memes.”
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)