The Enchantress

India's first test tube baby, youngest girl magician record holder, artistic illusionist, lecturer in engineering...all this at just 26! Can you get more intriguing than this? Kruti Parekh, currently a contestant on India's Magic Star, talks to Prachi S. Vaish about her life, work, and first love - magic

‘Magic is my birthright’
She was created by the magical hands of Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert G. Edwards (who was recently awarded the Nobel prize on Oct 4th) in London; truly India’s first test tube baby, born on the 29th of June, 1984…nothing short of a miracle!

This special gift makes her believe that “magic is my birthright because I was born from the magic of science. I didn’t realise when magic consumed me…it just happened. All I remember is that ever since I gained sense, I wanted to be a magician. It was very difficult at first because I couldn’t find a mentor. Nobody took me seriously and only when I could replicate their tricks in front of them, did they start to notice me! There was a time when I even received threats to stop my attempts at performing tricks but one day the same people were calling up to offer their congratulations!”

‘I am an entertaining magician’
“I love to entertain my audience and give them a lot of variety. No two of my items are alike. The more the risk, the better I love the show!” Where on one hand Kruti can drink acid and walk on fire, she is also an expert on ancient Indian magic and yogic feats.

‘Many feathers in my cap’
A mind trainer, Kruti helps people cross various hurdles in their lives. She is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest artistic illusionist in the world. She is the only magician so far offering a course in magic through Mumbai University and in her own Magic Academy. She avers that “this is my way of giving back to magic what it has given to me.”

She has penned a book called ‘Beyond the Threshold of Mind’ where she “highlights the power of the human mind to be able to achieve seemingly impossible feats by transcending the barriers that we humans erect in our own minds.” She has another in the pipeline where she has tried to make the Bhagvad Gita reachable to the youth in the contemporary setting. She claims that the teachings of the Gita are so versatile that they can be applied in today’s world to management and finance. Currently a lecturer at the D.J. Sanghvi College of Engineering and NMIMS University, Mumbai, she declares, “My aim is to revive what has existed in our culture for eons but is only now being affirmed.”

“My work is only centred towards youth and children. I wish to bring stability in their actions and thoughts through the training of their minds and enhance their focus in life.”

‘I was bowled over by the Omar Pasha show!’
This lady might leave everyone stunned in their seats but an Omar Pasha show she saw in her early years left an impression on her mind. And her own favourite tricks? “I put so much of energy, hard work, and preparation into each performance that each item turns into my favourite trick. It’s like asking a mother to choose her favourite child. Impossible!”

“There is so much more for me to do in the field of magic that trying to pick a favourite would be unfair; I haven’t even begun exploring yet!”

‘Yet another ‘First’ to my name’
She reveals that she is preparing for a never-seen-before show for India due to be out soon but the details are still under wraps because it’s going to be huge! When asked about her future wishes she boldly avows that, “Since there are so many firsts to my name, I wish to add one more…I want to be the first magician ever to perform in space.” Wow! Now that’s sure to be a ‘stellar’ performance!