Most Americans have probably never heard of Mahdi Moudini, but the Iranian magician has been hard at work in Malaysia for 20 years, becoming one of the country’s most popular and frequently demanded illusionists. In a recent interview with Malaysian news outlet The Star Online, Moudini talks about his inspirations, why his dramatic hand gestures are important to his routine, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, and why he loves performing is his signature trick: transforming a Malaysian Ringgit into a US Dollar. Check out the interview above to find out why Malaysians call him “Asia’s answer to David Copperfield”, and take a glance at his YouTube page for a sample of his take on stage magic.