Nainital: For Sahil, an eight-year-old street magician who travels from place to place with his family to earn a hand-to-mouth existence, real magic just happened. After a video of him performing on a street in Nainital went viral online, it caught the eye of Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, who has now reached out to the young conjurer.
Deeply moved by the child's raw talent, Mahindra took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his admiration and issue a public appeal to locate Sahil's family. "Is he still performing on the streets of Nainital? I would like to help him," Mahindra posted.
Striking an optimistic tone about the boy's future, the industrialist added, "Why can't this child become one of the world's greatest magicians? Could someone help me reach out to his parents?"
Mahindra emphasised a holistic approach to the boy's future, stating that his intention is to not only fund the child's academic schooling but also to actively encourage, formalise, and cultivate his natural flair for the illusion arts.
The post has ignited widespread support online, with thousands of netizens stepping forward to help connect the Mahindra team with the young artist. Given the immense traction of the appeal, formal assistance is anticipated to reach Sahil and his family shortly, transforming a street corner stage into a launchpad for global potential.
Just a few months ago, Sahil became the talk of the town in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, stunning both local residents and tourists with his extraordinary sleight of hand. Coming from a family where magic has been the primary source of livelihood for generations, Sahil mastered the intricate nuances of the craft at a tender age.
When TOI spoke with residents of Ramnagar, locals noted that the family does not have a permanent residence and settles temporarily wherever they can find space. While initial local accounts suggested Sahil did not attend school simply due to a lack of interest, his family later clarified that severe financial constraints were the hurdles.
Speaking to TOI on Friday, Sahil shared that he has accompanied his father to magic shows since early childhood, gradually learning the art by watching him perform. Just two days ago, he arrived in Nainital with his father to put on a show. However, local authorities denied them permission to perform. With their opportunity vanished and having arrived in Nainital with just ₹400, they were left stranded without enough money to cover their expenses and return journey. Sahil then suggested to his father that he try performing on his own. He stepped onto the street to save the day, completely unaware that a video of his performance would soon go viral.
Meanwhile, Sahil's father, Ruksaan Ali, told TOI that the family originally hails from Rajasthan but currently lives in a rented room near the Ramnagar railway station. Ali, who has four children, travels from place to place performing magic shows in hotels and public spaces to support his family.
Before moving to Ramnagar, they lived in Manali, but since relocating, Ali has struggled to find regular work. According to him, financial hardship forced his eldest son, 16, to drop out of school to help support the family, and eventually, Sahil had to leave school as well.
Expressing hope after the viral attention, Ali said that if Anand Mahindra wishes to support them, the family would be deeply grateful, as such assistance will help them rebuild their lives.
