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Helen (actress)

May 04, 2023

Helen Ann Richardson Khan (born as Helen Ann Richardson; 21 November 1938), known mononymously as Helen, is an Indian actress and dancer. She has appeared in over 1000 films,[1] making her a prolific performer in Hindi cinema. She is known for her supporting, character roles and guest appearances in a career spanning seventy years.

Helen
Helen in 2019
Born
Helen Ann Richardson

(1938-11-21) 21 November 1938 (age 84)
Rangoon, British Burma
(present-day Yangon, Myanmar)
NationalityBritish Burmese (1938–1946)
British Indian (1946–1947)
Anglo-Indian (1947–1957)
Indian (1957–present)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
Years active1951–present
Spouse(s)
Prem Narayan Arora
​
​
(m. 1957; div. 1974)​

​
(m. 1981)​
AwardsFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
HonoursPadma Shri (2009)

Helen has received two Filmfare Awards,[1] and is often cited as one of the most popular nautch dancers of her time.[2] In 2009, Helen was awarded with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.[3] She was the inspiration for four films and a book.[4]

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.[5] 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".[citation needed]

She quit her schooling to support her family because her mother's salary as a nurse was not enough to feed a family of four.[6] In a documentary called Queen of the Nautch girls, Helen said she was 19 years old in 1958 when she got her first big break in Howrah Bridge.

Career

Helen was introduced to Bollywood (Hindi cinema) 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).

She 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.[7]

 
Helen in 1969, posing for Filmfare Magazine

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 Best Supporting Actress Award in 1965 for her role as Kitty Kelly in Gumnaam. She played dramatic roles in films like China Town and Sachaai 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 Chinatown, 'O haseena zulfonwali' in Teesri Manzil, 'Hai pyar ka hi naam' in Singapore, and 'Muqabla humse na karo' in Prince.

She performed onstage in London, Paris, and Hong Kong. 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,[8] 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 a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. In 1999 Helen was given India's Filmfare lifetime achievement award.

Helen officially retired from movies 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 in 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 standing with Salim Khan in 2012

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.[citation needed] 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, Arpita Khan,. Helen is a Christian.[9]

Awards and honors

Selected filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jerry Pinto (1 March 2006). Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303124-6. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. ^ Mukherjee, Madhurita (3 February 2003). . The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Helen, Ash, Akshay named for Padma Shri". Hindustan Times. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Helen". OutlookIndia. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  5. ^ "I have no problems with the item no". santabanta.com. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Helen Richardson". liveindia.com. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  7. ^ Basu, Anustup (2013), ""The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships": Helen and Public Femininity in Hindi Film", in Sen, Meheli; Basu, Anustup (eds.), Figurations in Indian Film, New York City: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 139–157, ISBN 978-1-349-33209-0
  8. ^ Rediff Interview with Jerry Pinto, daijiworld.com, 29 March 2006.
  9. ^ "Salman Khan's heart-warming family story". Emirates 24/7. 25 July 2015.
  10. ^ (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.

Sources

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Helen (actress).
  • Helen at IMDb
  • Helen at Bollywood Hungama
  • Rediff profile, rediff.com; accessed 11 December 2014.
  • Huffington Post profile; accessed 11 December 2014.

May 04, 2023
helen, actress, helen, richardson, khan, born, helen, richardson, november, 1938, known, mononymously, helen, indian, actress, dancer, appeared, over, 1000, films, making, prolific, performer, hindi, cinema, known, supporting, character, roles, guest, appearan. Helen Ann Richardson Khan born as Helen Ann Richardson 21 November 1938 known mononymously as Helen is an Indian actress and dancer She has appeared in over 1000 films 1 making her a prolific performer in Hindi cinema She is known for her supporting character roles and guest appearances in a career spanning seventy years HelenHelen in 2019BornHelen Ann Richardson 1938 11 21 21 November 1938 age 84 Rangoon British Burma present day Yangon Myanmar NationalityBritish Burmese 1938 1946 British Indian 1946 1947 Anglo Indian 1947 1957 Indian 1957 present OccupationsActressdancerYears active1951 presentSpouse s Prem Narayan Arora m 1957 div 1974 wbr Salim Khan m 1981 wbr AwardsFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Lifetime Achievement AwardHonoursPadma Shri 2009 Helen has received two Filmfare Awards 1 and is often cited as one of the most popular nautch dancers of her time 2 In 2009 Helen was awarded with the Padma Shri by the Government of India 3 She was the inspiration for four films and a book 4 Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Awards and honors 5 Selected filmography 6 See also 7 References 8 Sources 9 External linksEarly life and background EditHelen Ann Richardson was born on 21 November 1938 in Rangoon Burma to an Anglo Indian father and a Burmese mother 5 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 citation needed She quit her schooling to support her family because her mother s salary as a nurse was not enough to feed a family of four 6 In a documentary called Queen of the Nautch girls Helen said she was 19 years old in 1958 when she got her first big break in Howrah Bridge Career EditHelen was introduced to Bollywood Hindi cinema 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 She 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 7 Helen in 1969 posing for Filmfare Magazine 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 Best Supporting Actress Award in 1965 for her role as Kitty Kelly in Gumnaam She played dramatic roles in films like China Town and Sachaai 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 Chinatown O haseena zulfonwali in Teesri Manzil Hai pyar ka hi naam in Singapore and Muqabla humse na karo in Prince She performed onstage in London Paris and Hong Kong 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 8 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 a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award In 1999 Helen was given India s Filmfare lifetime achievement award Helen officially retired from movies 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 in 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 Edit Helen standing with Salim Khan in 2012 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 citation needed 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 Arpita Khan Helen is a Christian 9 Awards and honors EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Padma Shri a civilian honour from the Indian government 2009 10 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 1999 Filmfare Lifetime Achievement AwardSelected filmography EditAwaara 1951 as background dancer Shabistan 1951 as background dancer Alif Laila 1953 as background dancer Mayurpankh 1954 as street dancer Santosham 1955 Telugu Halaku 1956 Mr Lambu 1956 Yahudi Ki Ladki 1957 Dongallo Dora 1957 Telugu Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958 Howrah Bridge 1958 Yahudi 1958 Bhookailas 1958 Telugu Uthama Puthiran 1958 Sawan 1959 Anari 1959 Hum Hindustani 1960 Abdulla 1960 Return of Mr Superman 1960 Ek Phool Char Kante 1960 Bahana 1960 Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960 Baghdad Thirudan 1960 Tamil film Gunga Jumna 1961 Umar Qaid 1961 Mr India 1961 Sampoorna Ramayana 1961 Half Ticket 1962 Bombay Ka Chor 1962 China Town 1962 Sunheri Nagin 1963 Shikari 1963 Mulzim 1963 Taj Mahal 1963 Aaya Toofan 1964 Cha Cha Cha 1964 Woh Kaun Thi 1964 Zindagi 1964 Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain 1965 Faisla 1965 Gumnaam 1965 Khandan 1965 Kaajal 1965 Love And Murder 1966 Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi 1966 Teesri Manzil 1966 Dus Lakh 1966 Chaddian Di Doli 1966 Punjabi film Bahu Begum 1967 C I D 909 1967 Hare Kaanch Ki Chooriyan 1967 Jaal 1967 Jewel Thief 1967 Shikar 1968 Talaash 1969 Prince 1969 Bikhre Moti 1969 Bhai Bahen 1969 Inteqam 1969 Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool 1969 Pyar Ka Sapna 1969 Pagla Kahin Ka 1970 The Train 1970 Tum Haseen Main Jawaan 1970 Bombay Talkie 1970 Puraskar 1970 Caravan 1971 Hulchul 1971 Hungama 1971 Adhikar 1971 Upaasna 1971 Man Mandir 1971 Parwana 1971 Sange Muzhangu 1972 Tamil film Mere Jeevan Saathi 1972 Doctor X 1972 Rakhi Aur Hathkadi 1972 Dil Daulat Duniya 1972 Apradh 1972 Bhale Huchcha 1972 Kannada Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche 1972 Dharkan 1972 Heera 1973 Anamika 1973 Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar 1973 Chhote Sarkaar 1974 Geetaa Mera Naam 1974 Benaam 1974 Madhosh 1974 Sholay 1975 Zakhmee 1975 Kaala Sona 1975 Saazish 1975 Aaj Ka Ye Ghar 1976 Bairaag 1976 Ginny Aur Johnny 1976 Raees 1976 Immaan Dharam 1977 Inkaar 1977 Khoon Pasina 1977 Amar Akbar Anthony 1977 Chala Murari Hero Banne 1977 Don 1978 Besharam 1978 Swarag Narak 1978 Phandebaaz 1978 Lahu Ke Do Rang 1979 The Great Gambler 1979 Hema Hemeelu 1979 Telugu Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum 1979 Tamil Malayalam Billa 1980 Tamil Abdullah 1980 Dostana 1980 Ram Balram 1980 Shaan 1980 Bulundi 1981 Josh 1981 Heeron Ka Chor 1982 Sawaal 1982 Aladin dan Lampu Wasiat 1982 Indonesian Movie Haadsa 1983 Bond 303 1985 Akayla 1991 Khamoshi The Musical 1996 Saazish 1998 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 1999 Mohabbatein 2000 Shararat 2002 Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa 2004 Anjaane The Unknown 2005 Humko Deewana Kar Gaye 2006 Marigold 2007 Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyon 2010 One Room Kitchen 2011 Marathi film Rosy Aunty Jodi Breakers 2012 Heroine 2012 Pagli Shaadi Go Dadi 2021 See also EditDesperately Seeking Helen https www tribuneindia com news reviews story dancing queen of bombay cinema 489396References Edit a b Jerry Pinto 1 March 2006 Helen The Life and Times of an H Bomb Penguin Books India ISBN 978 0 14 303124 6 Retrieved 5 January 2013 Mukherjee Madhurita 3 February 2003 Revamping Bollywood s sexy vamps The Times of India Archived from the original on 3 November 2012 Retrieved 16 November 2010 Helen Ash Akshay named for Padma Shri Hindustan Times 26 January 2009 Retrieved 26 September 2019 Helen OutlookIndia 17 April 2006 Retrieved 16 October 2011 I have no problems with the item no santabanta com 24 January 2008 Retrieved 12 July 2015 Helen Richardson liveindia com 18 July 2011 Retrieved 1 May 2012 Basu Anustup 2013 The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships Helen and Public Femininity in Hindi Film in Sen Meheli Basu Anustup eds Figurations in Indian Film New York City Palgrave Macmillan pp 139 157 ISBN 978 1 349 33209 0 Rediff Interview with Jerry Pinto daijiworld com 29 March 2006 Salman Khan s heart warming family story Emirates 24 7 25 July 2015 Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2015 Archived from the original PDF on 15 October 2015 Retrieved 21 July 2015 Sources EditJerry Pinto 2006 Helen The Life and Times of an H Bomb Penguin Books India ISBN 978 0 14 303124 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Helen actress Helen at IMDb Helen at Bollywood Hungama Rediff profile rediff com accessed 11 December 2014 Huffington Post profile accessed 11 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helen actress amp oldid 1149361183, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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