His wife Joysri assists with the choreography, and his three daughters -- Maneka, Moubani and Mumtaz -- have learnt some tricks too. Maneka, who did her MBA from Ohio University, has joined him on the stage; the other two are pursing interests in theatre and dance.

He takes umbrage when I ask him why his father earlier, and he now, have not evolved like David Blaine or David Copperfield, whose constant metamorphosis have cast them as iconic performers.

"They perform for 20 minutes," he says dismissively, "they like it short. My performance demands time. The routine is part of my identity." Nor is he taken with their stark stage settings. "I believe in a world of ecstasy," he says.

But surely his insistence on appealing to low-brow mainstream audiences is keeping him away from the burgeoning demand for organised live entertainment? "Corporates don't understand show business," he insists.

"Their ideas are tantamount to defaming art and culture." He says he offers a complete package over two hours. "I enjoy interacting with my audience," he says, "and art demands continuity."

Image: P C Sorcar performs. | Photograph: Diptendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images