Like the man who survived the horrors of Auschwitz with only his determination to keep him alive. Or the Jewish couple who bumped into each other during the course of the war and promptly fell in love. The circumstances, and the overpowering need to survive, forced them to separate for the duration of the war. Neither knew if the other would be able to live through that terrible period but they persevered. And prayed. Once the war ended, they directed all their energies towards finding each other. Eventually, they met, got married - and are still not sure how it all happened!

After a point, though, she had to leave. "There comes a time in life when you have to start thinking about earning your living." For work at the Foundation is strictly volunteer-based.

Natasha is also very concerned about the environment and where its headed. She is a member of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society as well as the International Dolphin Watch Society. She has even done a bit of fund-raising for them from time to time.

A certified diver, Natasha abhors the fact that most people who spend a lot of time and money diving to see pretty fish are, in the next minute, seated at a seaside bistro tucking into every form of marine life! She considers it an example of rank hypocrisy and is, herself, vegetarian by choice.

"I come from a crazy animal-loving family and we're always rescuing stray cats and dogs." What she misses most in Bombay is her miniature Dachshund. "My family, too," she adds, as an after-thought.

She hates any form of sexist behaviour and, ever since her return to India, has had to endure a lot of it. Occasionally, however, she gives in to blind rage and biffs people up.

"This happened to me in Delhi," says Natasha, "soon after I had returned home for the first time. I was not clued into 'acceptable social behaviour or the right way to dress' as yet and had popped across to Nirula's for a bite in a comfortable pair of shorts. Waiting in line for my turn, I felt a hand thoroughly explore my bottom. I was raging with anger, but I told myself to calm down and ignore the whole thing. A couple of minutes later, that hand was doing re-run! That was it! Calmness and everything else was shoved down right where it belonged as I swirled around and punched the guy good and proper."

It was then that Natasha realised she had a couple of weapons in her arsenal. "One," she grins, "Indian men seem to be intimidated by my height." Which is impressive at a good five feet eight-odd inches. "Two," she continues blithely, "when I get angry, I get really angry. And I don't consider the consequences of my actions. So I quite apt at slamming a man with by fist first and then wondering if he strong enough to smash me one in the face in retaliation."

For the moment, though, she's enjoying doing MTV Graffiti, even though it is a light-hearted gossipy chat show that does seem a no-no for a politically very correct person. How long she'll last or where she might be headed next, she cannot tell. But then, that's her style.

Tell us what you think of this profile                                          BACK