For numerous practitioners, the pandemic exacerbated an already precarious existence.
India’s 2020 lockdown halted public performances, prompting many magicians to return to their villages, with some never returning.
“We witnessed a significant decline in public performances thereafter,” Dhanda notes. “The impact was particularly severe for street magicians, many of whom did not return to urban centers.”
For those who returned and continued their craft, the difficulties only multiplied.
Shahim Khan, 42, continues to perform magic on Delhi’s streets, occasionally accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, Alia.
His work is now largely confined to industrial zones, far from the bustling public spaces of his past, severely impacting his earnings.
Prior to the pandemic, he could perform four or five shows daily, earning 1,000 to 1,200 rupees.
“Now I barely manage two shows and earn 200 to 400 rupees,” he says.
Experts note that the rise of short-form digital entertainment has compounded the pressures on traditional performers, alongside shifting attitudes toward street arts.
“Decades ago, Western fascination with acts like the rope trick was high. However, forms and tastes have evolved, as has India’s cultural presentation,” Dhanda observes.
For Khan, the loss transcends finances. He fears a generational art form could vanish if no one learns it.
“A trick survives only if someone learns it,” he states.
His son, Altamash, began performing with him as a teenager but now decorates parties with balloons. In his 30s, he has largely abandoned performing.
Years without regular practice have dulled his skills. When demonstrating his juggling for the BBC, he struggled to find his rhythm.
“I am slowly forgetting all the tricks,” he said.
Khan had hoped his son would continue the family tradition. Altamash also aspired to make a name for himself, but it did not materialize.
“I knew I might not achieve my father’s fame, but I never imagined a time when performing would no longer be an option,” he says.
