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Helen , Bollywood Actress

Helen , Bollywood ActressHelen 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


(Last Updated on : 12/12/2008)

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