THE CARD ALCHEMIST

IN A WORLD RULED BY SCREENS, AMEET TALREJA IS REVIVING THE JOY OF REALWORLD PLAY. FROM A FAMILY LEGACY IN PRINTING TO CREATING WORLD-CLASS CARD AND BOARD GAMES, HE'S TRANSFORMING PAPER AND INK INTO TOOLS FOR LEARNING, BONDING, AND STORYTELLING - ONE DECK AT A TIME

- 

The hum of the Heidelberg press filled the cavernous 8,000 sq ft floor, its pistons pumping rhythm in precise cadence. In one corner stood the UV coating station; in another, a gleaming male-female die cutting machine, its blades whispering as it sheared decks into perfect rounded corners. This was the kingdom of Mohit Printers - and its prince, Ameet Talreja, gazed over the floor like a conductor before his orchestra.

Ameet's story is woven into the intricate tapestry of a family. Forty-four years earlier, his father, Manohar Talreja, together with his four brothers, founded GT Playing Cards Co., setting up a modest print shop that made playing cards for local markets. The Sindhi household lived, ate, argued, and innovated under the same roof. As siblings grew up side by side, disputes over margins and paper stocks often gave way to reconciliations over evening games of rummy. The message was clear: family and business are intertwined, and that bond was their strength.

When Ameet and his brothers joined the business, the world had changed. The age of the smartphone beckoned, and traditional printed amusements seemed old-fashioned. But Ameet saw in that very challenge an opportunity. During the COVID lockdowns, when digital fatigue spread through households, he observed a quiet resurgence in board games and card games. As homes reverted to analog joys, families rediscovered the simple pleasure of shuffling cards, tracing paths on game boards, and arguing over rules late into the night.