Delhi means many things to many people   a maze of cultures, a tapestry of contradictions, and above all, a city that shapes dreamers. Here, ambition is a birthright, and resilience is almost a way of life. Generations have grown up believing that grit can rewrite destiny, and time and again, the city has proven them right. From Shah Rukh Khan rising from theatre stages to global stardom, to Virat Kohli’s unshakeable intensity on the field, to Aman Gupta building one of India’s most beloved lifestyle brands  Delhi molds individuals who don’t just chase dreams; they build them.

Among the latest names shaped by this relentless energy is Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments. His journey begins far from Dubai’s gleaming skyline   in the bustling lanes of Karol Bagh. Life tilted early when he lost his father at the age of six. Yet, instead of being defined by loss, he emerged with a resilience that Delhi quietly instills in its children.

Determined to carve his own path, Aggarwal pursued chartered accountancy with focus and precision. Soon after qualifying, armed with nothing but confidence and a Rs 70,000 loan from his elder sister, he launched his own practice. For most, it would have been a gamble. For a Delhi boy, it was simply the first step.

That instinct to bet big eventually led him abroad. In Dubai  a city where the world comes to reinvent itself  Aggarwal founded Bricks n Wood, now BNW Developments, a company now valued in the billions of dirhams. Along the way, Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi joined him as co-founder, drawn by Aggarwal’s clarity, vision, and business acumen.

Today, BNW Developments has assets under development worth AED 22 billion and is poised to launch projects exceeding Rs 20,000 crore, including collaborations with prestigious names such as Taj Wellington Mews.

But beyond the numbers lies the essence of the journey   the signature Delhi boldness, the refusal to bow to circumstance, and the belief that every setback is simply a setup for something larger.

In Aggarwal’s rise, one can almost hear the city’s heartbeat: spirited, stubborn, and endlessly hopeful. A story that begins in Delhi, yet finds its place among the world’s most ambitious skylines.