Helen’s impact on Indian cinema spanned decades. Born in Myanmar, Helen Anne Richardson embarked on a journey to India with aspirations of making a mark in films. In the 60s and 70s, she stood as the epitome of grace with her famous dancing skills. Helen entered Bollywood as a background dancer in the 1951 film Awaara, but it was the 1958 classic Howrah Bridge that propelled her to stardom. The evergreen Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu song remains a timeless classic.
Helen etched her place in the hearts of Bollywood buffs through her dance performances. She appeared in over 600 movies. Woh Kaun Thi, Gumnaam, Kaajal, Jewel Theif, Yakeen, The Train, and Caravan are some of her popular films. In 2009, the Government of India bestowed upon this legendary dancer and actress the prestigious Padma Shri.
In the mid-1960s, legendary scriptwriter Salim Khan played a pivotal role in securing several projects for Helen. This led to a strong professional relationship between them. Over the years, their relationship blossomed into a romantic connection. At that time, Salim Khan was already married to Sushila Charak, also known as Salma Khan. Helen shifted with them and became a significant part of their lives.
Reflecting on this unconventional situation, Helen, in a conversation with Arbaaz Khan, shared insights into her love for Salim Khan and the dynamics with Salma. She expressed gratitude for Salma’s kindness, acknowledging the challenges she had faced. Helen revealed, “He (Salim) assigned me a part (in a film). We grew close, and your mother was lovely. It must have been difficult for her at the time; she must have experienced a lot. I believe that all of you are connected to me by fate, and I want to thank you all. I’ve never wanted Salim to be apart from his family.”
In a similar vein, Salim Khan, conversing with Arbaaz Khan, described his romantic involvement with Helen as an “emotional accident.” He stated, “She was young, I was also young. Mera koi aisa iraada nahi tha. This is an emotional accident. Kisi ke sath bhi ho sakta hai.”
Top 5 Songs Of Helen
- Kar Le Pyar Kar LeA timeless gem from the 1969 movie Talash, this classic is a must-add to any Bollywood music enthusiast’s playlist. The legendary SD Burman composed the enchanting tune, and Helen’s mesmerising dance brought it to life.
- Is Duniya Mein Jeena Ho ToFrom the 1965 film Gumnaam, it isa mood lifter. Helen was nominated for a Filmfare award for her acting in the film.
- Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar ka DeewanaAn iconic song from the 1978 movie Don, this track showcases Bollywood’s “angry young man” Amitabh Bachchan and Helen. Composed by Kalyanji Anandji and sung by Asha Bhosle, this is a classic Bollywood foot-tapper.
- Mera Naam Chin Chin ChuNo list is complete without this ageless classic. At the tender age of 18, Helen took center stage as the lead dancer in this song from Shakti Samanta’s 1958 film Howrah Bridge. Sung by Geeta Dutt, this song has stood the test of time.
- Piya Tu Ab Toh AajaYet another enchanting number by Asha Bhosle, featuring Helen, this song from the film Caravan won the Filmfare Award for Best Singer.
Helen’s latest appearance was in the series Brown, directed by Abhinay Deo. Titled Brown – The First Case, the series is based on Abheek Barua’s book, City of Death. It stars Karisma Kapoor, Soni Razdan and Surya Sharma in key roles.
Comments
0 comment