Helen is known as the "Golden Girl" of Hindi cinema. She is a dancer-actress who raised the standards of film dance to new heights. She perfected the art of cabaret, her elegance and style lending the genre respectability.
Born in Burma, Myanmar to a French father and Burmese mother, Helens family fled to India during World War II. Economic compulsions forced Helen to become a chorus dancer in films. However, her training in classical dance soon saw her doing solo numbers. Amongst the earliest of these was for the song "Mr. John O Baba Khan" in the film Baarish.
The phenomenal success of "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" from the film Howrah Bridge established Helen as the leading dancer of Hindi cinema. Her dances soon came to be regarded as a necessary ingredient for a films success and were almost de rigueur for films made between the 1950s and 1970s.
What set Helen apart from other dancers was her grace, control over rhythm and above all, a sensuousness that is best seen in such immortal hits as "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" (Caravan). Helen has also acted in several films such as Gumnaam and Lahu Ke Do Rang. These Hindi flicks were helpful in revealing her acting skills. Helen`s performance in the latter won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1979. Helen`s career traces a long path from Ashok Kumar to Shammi Kapoor to Amitabh Bachchan. She immortalised the songs like "Mehbooba Mehbooba" from Sholay, "Yeh Mera Dil" from Don and several others.
After a long sabbatical, Helen returned to acting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s Khamoshi. She also made a special appearance in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam by the same director. Later she was seen in Shararat with Amrish Puri and Abhishek Bachchan.
Helen was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 1999.
Helen appeared in the following films:
| Awara |
Jaalsaaz |
Tasveer |
Upaasna |
Magroor |
| Mallika Salome |
Chhabili |
Teesri Manzil |
Apradh |
The Great Gambler |
| Lai Pari |
Hum Hindustani |
Jewel Thief |
Mere Jeevan Saathi |
Dostana |
| Teerandaaz |
Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi |
Noorjehan |
Barkha Bahar |
Ram Balram |
| Miss Coca Cola |
Saaya |
Kismet |
Chhalia |
Chorni |
| Patrani |
Reshmi Rumal |
Inteqam |
Mere Sajna |
Khamoshi |
| Taj |
Zamana Badal Gaya |
Prince |
Sholay |
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam |
| Baarish |
Dr Vidya |
Ehsan |
Imaan Dharam |
Shararat |
| Nau Do Gyarah |
China Town |
Puraskaar |
Don |
Mohabbatein |
| Howrah Bridge |
Woh Kaun Thi |
Caravan |
Kala Admi |
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha |
| Anari |
Gumnaam |
Hulchul |
Lahu Ke Do Rang |
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