Helen

Born: 21st October, 1939

Biography: Helen Richardson Khan was born in 1939 to an Anglo Indian father and Burmese mother. Well known as the Cabaret Queen of Indian cinema, Helen has many unforgettable dance sequences to her credit. Even today she is remembered for songs such as ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’ and ‘Mungda Mungda’.

Helen began her career in films by appearing in dance numbers. A family friend and actress Cuckoo found her jobs as a chorus dancer in films like Shabistan and Awaara. She soon got a chance of giving solo performances in films like Alif Laila and Hoor -e- Arab. She was first recognized for her dancing skills in the film Howrah Bridge, for the song ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu…’. This film propelled her to instant fame.

Later Helen also took up acting and was best known for her vamp roles. She also took up certain films with lead roles, but found little success. In the 1970s, a new trend started catching up where many younger actresses started doing cabaret sequences as well as playing lead roles. Helen witnessed some financial difficulties during this time. But Salim Khan helped her out with a new lease of life and she eventually married him as his second wife. She got some roles to play in films like Imaam Dharam, Don and Dostana. Then she got an offer for a challenging role in Mahesh Bhatt’s film, Lahu Ke Do Rang, for which she later won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

Later Helen retired and after a long time she started appearing in some character roles like in Akayla, Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. In 1998, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the hands of her three sons, Salman, Sohail and Arbaaz. Helen will always be credited for changing Bollywood norms as to songs and dances with her ostrich feathers and flamboyant performances.