Mind over magic
Meet Suhani Shah, The Woman Who Made Magic Think
Avika Gupta, XI B & Saideep Kukreja, IX D AIS Pushp Vihar
With over 5,000 performances worldwide, Suhani Shah has spent two decades redefining magic in India. Blending mind reading, psychology, and storytelling, she creates experiences beyond traditional illusions. A trained hypnotherapist and author of ‘Unleash Your Inner Power’, she has explored the human mind both on and off stage. Her win at the FISM World Championship of Magic 2025 in Torino, Italy, as ‘Best Magic Creator’ highlights her role as a modern mentalist. In an exclusive interaction, GT reporters step inside the mind of a mentalist.
Cultivating passion
My parents have always been visionaries. Even as a child, my opinions mattered, and they were taken seriously. When I told them I wanted to pursue magic, they encouraged it wholeheartedly. I remember my father encouraging me to perform on large stages. That support shaped who I am today. When I started magic, it was never meant to be a career. At seven, it was simply a passion and, over time, that passion naturally evolved into a profession.
The magician’s path
Unlike many art forms, magic has no formal degree, school, or curriculum. The art thrives on mystery, making it difficult to learn - especially two or three decades ago, when resources were scarce. Today, the internet has made it accessible. But mastering magic goes beyond learning tricks; it involves finding an audience, earning stage time, and making a livelihood. Like all unconventional arts, it demands deep passion. If you’re honest with your craft, your efforts are sure to be rewarded.
Uncertainty meets grace
Magic is a live performing art, and like any live performance, things can go wrong. A good artist, however, ensures the audience never notices those mishaps. In the early years, mistakes were more frequent. With experience, they reduced - but never completely disappeared. Saying nothing ever goes wrong would be dishonest. Preparation, backup plans, and the ability to recover seamlessly keeps the illusion intact.
Decoding mentalism
Think of dance as a parent category, with forms like salsa, Bharatanatyam, hip-hop, or jazz as subgenres. Magic works the same way. Mentalism, illusions, escapology, close-up magic - all fall under magic. Every mentalist is a magician, but not every magician is a mentalist.
Penning thoughts
I wrote ‘Unleash Your Hidden Power’ when my father encouraged me to put my thoughts into a book. My travelling experiences gave me insights into human behaviour. By the time I was fifteen, the book was ready - not as a literary ambition, but to share observations with the world. Through my experience of interacting with different people, I have learnt that people all over the world are similar. They seek validation, share curiosity and wish to understand themselves. These shared traits are what make mentalism so fascinating.
Message for Amitians
Today, knowledge is available instantly but people lack sincerity. Commitment and being human matters. Once you choose kindness, the world begins to look different - for the better.
Unravelling the enigma
Book Review
Book: The Naturals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published on: November 5, 2013
Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller
Synopsis: Cassie (Cassandra) Hobbes is a 17-year-old teenager with an extraordinary gift of reading people; she is recruited by the FBI’s elite profile programme: ‘The Naturals’; a group of teenagers with remarkable gifts just like hers. They work together to crack infamous cold cases and unsolved mysteries. Each of them has an exceptional and unique skill – Sloane excels at statistics and numbers; Michael is an expert at reading emotions; Lia is a master human lie detector; Dean, like Cassie, is a profiler who can read behaviour by the tiniest actions and details. As they dive into a new investigation, they are faced with a chilling killer who is one step ahead of them. With each twist and turn, the stakes rise, and the Naturals must confront their own demons to catch the culprit. Can they solve the case before it’s too late, or will they become the killer’s next victims? Read on to find out…
Why is it worth reading: This book masterfully combines FBI procedural, suspense, and mysteries, creating a story that’s both captivating and unsettling. With complex characters, unexpected plot twists, and a dash of psychological insight, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of thrillers and mysterious books. “The Naturals” is a gripping read that will leave you eager for more, making this book an ideal start of a praised series.
Iconic quote: “I’m just saying that statistically, a psychopath is more likely to end up as a CEO than a serial killer.”
Rating: 4/5
Review by: Agrata Dhiman
AIS Gurugram 46, X H
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