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As a child growing up in Mumbai, she spent hours burrowing into books on astrology and reading the hands of obliging volunteers. Later, as she grew up, her childhood fascination developed into an all-abiding passion for tarot card reading. Today, the articulate and glamorous Sunita Menon has channelised this interest into her chosen vocation ? one that has brought with it more than her fair share of admirers. Quiz her on her success though, and Menon attributes it to her ability to connect with her clients and develop a relationship built on trust and understanding.
These days, Menon has a lot to be cheerful about. Her astrology-based show, Kosmiic Chat on the Zoom channel, where she features with actress Simone Singh, is steadily climbing the popularity charts. Produced by Balaji Telefilms, Kosmiic Chat takes in celebrity forecasts, tarot card readings, palmistry and numerology and Menon is confident about its success. ?There?s nothing new about astrology shows in India but I wanted my programme to be humorous and interactive. The whole idea is to reach out to as many people as possible,? she explains.
The USP of the show lies in light-hearted one-to-one interaction with the celebrity guest during which Menon answers his/her personal queries by reading the cards. Says Menon, ?Though the series is based on cosmic relationships, besides predictions, it?s also about understanding the mental make-up and personality of a person.?
From starting out by reading tarot cards from her living room over a decade ago to becoming one of the best-known names in the business, it?s been quite a journey for Menon, who even worked for a while as an air-hostess with Jet Airways. But she didn?t enjoy the job and eventually gave it up. Finally, it was a trip to Ireland to visit an ailing friend that changed her life. In Ireland, she met a tarot card reader named Jenny. Says Menon, ?She gave me valuable insights into this discipline and taught me the basic principles. I returned to her and that is where my journey began.?
Menon has made it her life?s mission to convince people that tarot card reading isn?t some kind of mumbo-jumbo. ?Tarot gets you in touch with your strengths and weaknesses at the four levels of consciousness: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The cards combine astrology, numerology, symbolism and the occult to reveal insights into the past, present and future,?she explains.
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For her part, Menon has tried relentlessly to create awareness about the subject. ?I started out with a group of female friends. As they gained interest in tarot, they spread the word around and gradually, my client list began to grow,? she informs. And today, this list is formidable indeed, for right from musicians, politicians, actors and film-makers to fashion designers and socialities, Menon is in great demand.
There?s designer Manish Malhotra who swears by her abilities while her other celebrity clients include director Karan Johar and producer Ekta Kapoor. Then there are investment bankers, company heads, lawyers, doctors and even students. ?I have a mixed clientele and I am lucky that they look upon me as a friend,? she laughs.
Despite her celebrity status today, Menon remains unaffected by her success. What sets her apart from her contemporaries are her intuitive powers, her sensitivity and her fine understanding of human psychology. Which is why you may find high-profile clients like Ekta Kapoor calling on her for advice before starting out on any new project. ?Many people ask me the real reason behind Ekta?s obsession with the ?K? factor. When she first contacted me, I read her cards and explained the scientific rationale behind it. The rest is history,? says Menon.
Currently busy shuttling between her work for the channel and sessions with her clients, Menon has too much on her plate right now to embark on any new projects. But she hopes some day to pen down her experiences or even open a tarot card reading school. Till then, however, like always, her fascination for tarot will continue to endure.