Happy Birthday to Helen-The Cabaret Queen of Bollywood
Helen was Born on 21st Nov 1939.She is famous for her performances in flamboyant dance sequences and cabaret numbers. She was known as the Cabaret Queen of India and the Golden girl of India. Her father was of Indian Origin and mother of Burmese origin.Her father died during the Second World War. The family migrated to Mumbai in 1943 during World War II, but her mother's salary as a nurse was not enough, and Helen had to quit her schooling to support the family.
Mr. John O Baba Khan srom Baarish 1957
A family friend, an actress known as Cukoo, helped her find jobs as a chorus dancer in the films Shabistan and Awaara (1951). She was soon working regularly, and was featured as a solo dancer in films like Alif Laila (1952) and Hoor-e-Arab (1953) but got recognition from the song "Mr. John O Baba Khan" in the film Baarish.
Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu
In 1958, she had her first major hit with her performance in the song "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" in Shakti Samanta's hit film, Howrah Bridge which was sung by Geeta Dutt. She was in great demand after this, performing as a cabaret dancer and vamp in film after film. She won nomination for the best supporting actress in 1965 for the movie 'Gumnaam'
v\Vamp roles and "item numbers" kept her busy through the 1960s.She was known to have acted in 500 movies by 1972 which was a huge record for her.She also performed numerous stage shows .
She never had success as Leading or character artist in films though she played the heroine or played dramatic roles. She won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Mahesh Bhatt's film Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979)
Helen retired from the screen for a number of years, but made a few guest roles in 1999 and 2000. In Mohabbatein, she plays the prim and proper head of a girls' school, who is pulled out onto a dance floor and surprises everyone with her lively dancing. She also made a special appearance as Salman Khan's mother in the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Helen is selected for the Padma Shri awards of 2009 along with Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar. Helen married Salim Khan, his second wife in 1980. They adopted a girl, Arpita.
Best of Helen's Songs & Dances
Compitition Of Helen with Vaijyantimala -
Dr Vidya
Compitition Of Helen with Hema Malini
Sharif Badmash
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Song from Shatranj 1969
Song from Inkaar 1978
Song from Intequqm 1969
Song from Gumnam 1965
Song from Yeh Raat Phir Nahin Aayegi 1966
Song from Madhosh 1974
Song from Sholay 1975
Song from Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool 1969
Song from Aaya Toofan
Song from Half Ticket 1962
Song from Jaali Note
Song from The Train 1970
Song from Zindagi 1964
Song from Dulhan Ek Raat Ki 1967
Song from Teesri Manzil 1966
Song from Don 1978
Piya Tu Ab To Aaja from Caravan