Stage & Screen

Getting To Know... Natasha Kalimada

Get ready to meet Natasha Kalimada, one of the stars of new movie "Babylon"!
Photos by Navneet Arakony and Atmadeep Sen.
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Getting To Know... Natasha Kalimada

My full name is… Natasha Anne Kalimada.

My birthday is on... January 6, a Capricorn, the day of substantiation. It is said that those born on this day believe in a divinity, nature, or universal spirit or soul.

How do you identify... I identify as She. I also identify as a Nurturer.

Three words my friends would use to describe me are… compassionate, accepting, and dedicated.

My favourite place in the world is… Oh, this is a hard one. My favorite two places are Scotland and India. The most profound experience I’ve ever had in my life was when I visited the Taj Mahal. I felt love all around me.

One thing you must know about me is… I met one of my best friends on a plane to Thailand.

One surprising thing about me is… I NEVER pack light. But hey, at least I’m always prepared for whatever climate I may find myself in.

Something I can’t live without is… my plush bean-bag pillow from the good old Sharper Image store. This thing has traveled the world with me. I still haven’t found a replacement and every time I put it through the washer and dryer, I get worried that it will break apart!

My favourite dish/meal is… salmon, arugula, and avocado. And a good ole fashioned Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate bar.

My favourite thing about Babylon is… my Babylon family. And how wonderful it was to work and create beside Brad Pitt!

What I hope resonates the most with the audience when they watch Babylon is… how far one will go and how far one will sacrifice to achieve their dreams.

One behind-the-scenes story or fact when I made Babylon is… that I trained with butterflies and was hiding one in my sleeve prior to the kiss with Brad during sunset. Yes, even butterflies are actresses! We had the most amazing animal handler on set, Diana Terranova. She taught me how to hold a butterfly so they feel secure and trusted.

A song I would recommend right now is… ‘Snow on the Beach’ by Taylor Swift featuring Lana Del Rey.

A TV show or movie I would recommend right now is… Blonde featuring Ana de Armas

A book I would recommend right now is… I’ll give you two. The first, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahansa Yogananda, and the second, ‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple.

The last dream I had was… I was reunited with my first crush ever in life, from college, and I told him how proud I was of him.

One piece of advice I would give my younger self is… that your setbacks will be the biggest blessings in life. Be patient. Be true to yourself and love yourself to the fullest.

What I love most about my heritage is… my mixed heritage. The colorful culture of India mixed with the lushness and green, vast spaces of Scotland. My parents have instilled within me the ability to connect with anyone in life without judgment, endless curiosity, and a powerful sense of independence.

You’re in a zombie apocalypse; what is your weapon of choice, and why? A statue/figurine of Buddha. By no means is this a weapon, but a peaceful and understanding offering.

To me, diversity means… the ability to connect and share different worldviews: no matter the culture, socio-economic background, knowledge, and perspective. When all of these views are safely and openly shared, that’s when diversity happens.

Babylon is out in cinemas now. Natasha Kalimada can be found on Instagram here.
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