Sharman Joshi to perform in a mentalist show at NCPA this weekend

Sharman Joshi (in blue) with Bhupesh Dave at a show in 2018.

Sleight of hand. Distraction. Illusions. In the cynical world coloured by modern technology, the simple illusion of magic no longer holds the same sway. Yet, there is a new genre that has emerged and is slowly capturing the attention of the modern audience - mentalism. From names such as Lior Suchard to Suhani Shah, there is a list of personalities who can take an audience by the hand and cast a spell using simple games of prediction, premonition and precognition. On June 2, Sharman Joshi, actor, will join mentalist Bhupesh Dave in a show titled Braintertainers that seeks to enchant as much as arouse curiosity.

In a moment from the rehearsal

The curiosity, for this writer at least, was triggered by Joshi's presence on the show. The 3 Idiots actor who played Raju Rastogi in the cult flick, is remembered for his versatile screen personas, and not as a performer of mental tricks. "It was an interest that began when I attended Dave's show six years ago," Joshi recalls. As a guest, he found it fascinating that an individual could read the audience so well, and in so short a time. "I wanted to learn more about how he read people and his performance methods," he says. And so, over many meetings, and a long hiatus during the pandemic, the actor signed up for an internship to learn the craft behind the art.

But how does one go from being in a Raju Hirani film to studying expressions? "Curiosity," laughs Joshi. Dave recalls, "I showed him only a few techniques of gauging and identifying signals in the beginning, but he went on to do his own research and would come back with some very interesting approaches and questions. That got me thinking if he should pursue this more seriously." After four months of intense training and workshopping, the duo is all set to bring their first show to the Mumbai stage this weekend.

The two performers work the details with their team

While the genre has been popular - finding its way to television through series such as Psych, Sherlock and even the eponymous, The Mentalist - Dave is keen to point out that there is a key difference between magicians and mentalists. "It is the highest form of magic. Mentalists work with mental illusions, i.e. studying behavioural patterns, body languages and facial expressions." Before he turned to mentalism, Dave was a Civil Services aspirant, and even cleared the state exams in 1986. "I took mentalism up as a profession in late 1988-89," he shares. Since then, he has been constantly learning, adapting and evolving new techniques. These understandings offer insight into the one common factor that has remained unchanged - human behaviour.

For Joshi, this was the common plane between theatrical acting and stage illusion. "As an actor, we are as much readers of people's behaviour as anyone else. The elements of the performance also overlap. Moreover, I was drawn to the immense amount of concentration and skill required," Joshi reveals.

Tricks is a rather simplistic term for something that happens so quickly; it feels instinctive. "I watch and read people from the minute they are in front of me. Whether they choose a black marble or a white one, are lying or not, it all comes across in facial features, ticks and behavioural patterns. It is not an exact science, and even I make mistakes. The trick is to tide over the mistakes with showmanship," he laughs.

The duo debuted the show for students at SKC College in Vasai earlier this year. "I was still unsure of myself in front of people, despite being an actor for so long. Dave suggested this was the best way to gain that confidence. Now, I have it," Joshi remarks. The Mumbai show will mark the beginning of a tour that will see the duo take to stages across the country and perform. "The 21st century is a digital age, and how we do is just as important as what we do. In fact, in some cases, the trick is not so important as the presentation," shares Dave.

ON June 2; 4 pm and 7 pm
AT Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.com
COST Rs 250 onwards