Helen (actress)

Helen Ann Richardson Khan (; born 21 November 1938), known mononymously as Helen, is an Indian actress and dancer. One of the highest-paid dancers of her time, she has appeared in over 750 films, making her a prolific performer in Hindi cinema. Known for her sensual cabaret and nautch performances on screen and glamorous fashion statements, which often incorporated colourful wigs and contact lenses, she is cited in the media as one of the greatest and most popular dancers of India. As an actress, Helen frequently played bold, westernised antagonists in a number of films. In a career spanning over 70 years, she has been called the "Cabaret Queen" of Indian cinema and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009.

Early life and background Helen Ann Richardson was born on 21 November 1938 in Rangoon, Burma to an Anglo-Indian father and a Burmese mother. Her father's name was George Desmier and her mother's name was Marlene. She has a brother named Roger and a sister named Jennifer. Their father died during World War II. The family then trekked to Dibrugarh of Assam in 1943 in order to escape from the Japanese occupation of Burma. Helen told Filmfare during an interview in 1964: ...we trekked alternately through wilderness and hundreds of villages, surviving on the generosity of people, for we were penniless, with no food and few clothes. Occasionally, we met British soldiers who provided us with transport, found us refuge and treated our blistered feet and bruised bodies and fed us. By the time we reached Dibrugarh in Assam, our group had been reduced to half. Some had fallen ill and been left behind, some had died of starvation and disease. My mother miscarried along the way. The survivors were admitted to the Dibrugarh hospital for treatment. Mother and I had been virtually reduced to skeletons and my brother's condition was critical. We spent two months in hospital. When we recovered, we moved to Calcutta, and sadly my brother died there due to smallpox". She left school to support her family because her mother's salary as a nurse was not enough to feed a family of four. In a documentary called Queen of the Nautch girls, Helen said she was 19 years old when she got her big break in Howrah Bridge.

Career Helen was introduced to Bollywood when a family friend, an actress known as Cuckoo, helped her find jobs as a group dancer in the films Shabistan (1951) and Awaara (1951). She was soon working regularly and was featured as a solo dancer in films such as Alif Laila (1954) and Hoor-e-Arab (1955). She also featured as Street singer in film Mayurpankh (1954).

Helen got her major break in 1958, aged 19, when she performed on the song "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" in Shakti Samanta's film, Howrah Bridge, which was sung by Geeta Dutt. After that, offers started pouring in throughout the 1960s and 1970s. During her initial career, Geeta Dutt sang many songs for her. In the plot of many of the films of this period, Helen performs a song or dance then is killed, leaving the film's "good woman" available for the hero. The Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle also frequently sang for Helen, particularly during the 1960s and the early 1970s. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1965 for her role as Kitty Kelly in . She played dramatic roles in films like China Town and Sachaai (1969) starring Shammi Kapoor which went on to be very successful at the box office. She also played a sensitive character in the film Chhote Sarkar (1974) starring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana. With Shammi Kapoor, she did many hit dance numbers like 'Suku Suku' in Junglee, ' Yamma Yamma' in China Town, 'O Haseena Zulfonwali' in Teesri Manzil (1966), 'Hai Pyar Ka Hi Naam' in Singapore, and 'Muqabla Humse Na Karo' in Prince (1969).

Helen performed onstage in London, Paris and Hong Kong. In 1972, she appeared in the Kannada film Bhale Huchcha. In 1973, Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls, a 30-minute documentary film from Merchant Ivory Films, was released. Anthony Korner directed and narrated the film. A book about Helen was published by Jerry Pinto in 2006, titled The Life and Times of an H-Bomb,Rediff Interview with Jerry Pinto , daijiworld.com, 29 March 2006. which went on to win the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 2007. Writer Salim Khan helped her get roles in some of the films he was co-scripting with Javed Akhtar: Immaan Dharam, Don, Dostana, and Sholay. This was followed by a role in Mahesh Bhatt's film Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1999, Helen was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Helen officially retired from films in 1983, but she has since then appeared in a few guest roles such as Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Mohabbatein (2000). She also made a special appearance as the mother of real-life step-son Salman Khan's character in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She also appeared in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006).

Helen was selected for the Padma Shri awards of 2009 along with Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar. She appeared as a judge in the semifinals and finals of India's 2009 Dancing Queen television series.

Personal life

Helen's first marriage was in 1957 to film director Prem Narayan Arora of Dil Daulat Duniya fame, who was 27 years older than her. She divorced him in 1974. In 1981, Helen married Salim Khan, a prominent Bollywood screenplay writer. Khan was already married and the father of four children; Helen joined the Khan family and had a large role (along with Khan and his first wife Salma) in keeping the family united. All of Helen's step-children have bonded closely with her, and Helen is almost invariably accompanied in public appearances by Salma Khan, Salim's first wife. She has adopted a daughter. Helen is a Christian.

Selected filmography

Hindi YearTitle Role Note(s)1951 Awaara Background dancer Shabistan 1953 Alif Laila 1954 Mayurpankh street dancer1956 Halaku Mr. Lambu 1957 Yahudi Ki Ladki Qaidi 1958 Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Howrah Bridge Yahudi 1959 Sawan Anari 1960 Hum Hindustani Abdulla Return of Mr. Superman Ek Phool Char Kante Bahana Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1961 Gunga Jumna Umar Qaid Mr. India Sampoorna Ramayana1962 Half Ticket Stage Dancer Special appearance in the song "Woh Ek Nigah" Bombay Ka Chor China Town Suzy Main Chup Rahungi Menka1963 Sunheri Nagin Shikari Mulzim Taj Mahal 1964 Aaya Toofan Cha Cha Cha Woh Kaun Thi? Zindagi Hercules Baghi Awara Badal Aaya Toofan1965 Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain Faisla Gumnaam Khandan Kaajal 1966 Love and Murder Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi Teesri Manzil Dus Lakh 1967 Bahu Begum Dil Ne Pukara C.I.D. 909 Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan Jaal Jewel Thief 1968 Shikar 1969 Talaash Prince Bikhre Moti Bhai Bahen Inteqam Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool Pyar Ka Sapna 1970 Pagla Kahin Ka The Train Tum Haseen Main Jawaan Bombay Talkie Puraskar 1971 Caravan Monica Hulchul Kitty D'Costa Hungama Adhikar Kathputli Hum Tum Aur Woh Upaasna Man Mandir Parwana 1972 Mere Jeevan Saathi Doctor X Rakhi Aur Hathkadi Dil Daulat Duniya Apradh Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche Raja Jani Dharkan Sazaa Kitty Sultana Daku 1973 Heera Anamika Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar 1974 Chhote Sarkaar Geetaa Mera Naam Benaam Madhosh Khoon Khoon Call Girl (1974 film) Sylvia1975 Sholay Zakhmee Kaagaz Ki Nao Kaala Sona Saazish 1976 Aaj Ka Ye Ghar Bairaag Ginny Aur Johnny Raees 1977 Immaan Dharam Inkaar Khoon Pasina Pandit Aur Pathan Agent Vinod (1977 film) Lovelina Special appearance in the song "Loveleena Aa Gaya Mai" Amar Akbar Anthony Fake Jenny Chala Murari Hero Banne 1978 Don Besharam Swarag Narak Phandebaaz 1979 Lahu Ke Do Rang The Great Gambler 1980 Abdullah Dostana Ram Balram Shaan 1981 Bulundi Josh Sannata Ms. Kimmy1982 Heeron Ka Chor Tina Sawaal1983 Haadsa Martha Film Hi Film 1985 Bond 303 Lily 1991 Akayla Monica 1996 Khamoshi: The Musical 1998 Saazish Aunty Mary 1999 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2000 Mohabbatein 2001 Do Lafzon Ki Kahani (TV series) Monica TV series 2002 Shararat 2004 Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa Dhani's grandmother 2005 Anjaane: The Unknown 2006 Humko Deewana Kar Gaye Kitty Kohli 2007 Marigold2010 Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon 2012 Jodi Breakers Madonna Heroine Shafguta Rizvi 2021 Pagli Shaadi Go Dadi 2026 Brown Web series;

Other languages films YearTitle Role Language Note(s) 1955 Santosham Telugu 1957 Dongallo Dora Telugu1958 Bhookailas Apsara Telugu Special appearance in the song Sundaranga Andukora Uthama Puthiran Tamil Naan Valartha Thangai Maya Manithan Item dancer Special appearance in the song Kannukkulle Minnalaadudhu1959Gali Thekey Rajpath Bengali 1960 Baghdad Thirudan Tamil1963 Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo Bhojpuri Bidesiya 1966 Loha Singh Chaddian Di Doli Punjabi 1970 Rajkumari Bengali film 1972 Sange Muzhangu Tamil Bhale Huchcha Item dancer Kannada Special appearance in the sing "Nodu Lovely Beauty" 1979 Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Tamil/Malayalam Hema Hemeelu Telugu 1980 Billa Reena Tamil 1982 Aladin dan Lampu Wasiat Indonesian 1982 Agent Raaj Sonia Bengali 2011 One Room Kitchen Marathi

Awards and honors

Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Gumnaam (1966) Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shikaar (1969) Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Elaan (1972) Won – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Lahu Ke Do Rang (1980) Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Khamoshi: The Musical (1997) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) Padma Shri, a civilian honour from the Indian government (2009) Raj Kapoor Award (2022)

In popular culture In Aditya Chopra's 2008 film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodis song "Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte", Lara Dutta dressed herself as Helen, as a tribute to her look in Teesri Manzils song "O Haseena Zulfonwali Jane Jahan".

Helen (actress)

Bron en licentie