Indian actress Helen biography | Wiki | Family, Relationship and More
Helen, born Helen Ann Richardson Khan, is a legendary Indian actress and dancer who changed the look of Hindi film songs with her cabaret and item numbers from the 1950s to the 1980s. She appeared in more than 700–750 films and is still celebrated as Bollywood’s original “Queen of Dance.
Who is Helen?
Helen is an Indian film actress and dancer of Anglo-Indian and Burmese origin who became one of the most recognisable faces of Hindi cinema’s song-and-dance era. She worked mainly in Bollywood films as a cabaret dancer and character actress, often playing vamp, club dancer, or stylish supporting roles opposite major stars.
In 2009, she received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for her contribution to Indian cinema. She has also won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Lahu Ke Do Rang (1980), which showed that she could carry emotional character parts beyond dance numbers.
Helen Age – How Old is She?
As of 2026, Helen age is 87 years. She was born on 21 November 1938 in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma.
Helen, born Helen Ann Richardson Khan, is a legendary Indian actress and dancer who changed the look of Hindi film songs with her cabaret and item numbers from the 1950s to the 1980s. She appeared in more than 700–750 films and is still celebrated as Bollywood’s original “Queen of Dance.”
Who is Helen? – About Her
Helen is an Indian film actress and dancer of Anglo-Indian and Burmese origin who became one of the most recognisable faces of Hindi cinema’s song-and-dance era. She worked mainly in Bollywood films as a cabaret dancer and character actress, often playing vamp, club dancer, or stylish supporting roles opposite major stars.
In 2009, she received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for her contribution to Indian cinema. She has also won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Lahu Ke Do Rang (1980), which showed that she could carry emotional character parts beyond dance numbers.
Helen Age – How Old is She?
As of 2026, Helen age is 87 years. She was born on 21 November 1938 in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma.
Helen Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Helen Ann Richardson Khan (née Richardson) |
| Popular Name | Helen |
| Date of Birth | 21 November 1938 |
| Age (2026) | 87 Years |
| Birthplace | Rangoon/Yangon, Burma (now Myanmar) |
| Nationality | Indian (of Anglo‑Indian and Burmese origin) |
| Profession | Actress, Dancer |
| Active Years | 1951 – present (mainly 1950s–1990s) |
| Known For | Cabaret and item songs in Hindi films; vamp and character roles |
| Major Award | Padma Shri (2009); Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Lahu Ke Do Rang (1980) |
| Spouse(s) | Prem Narayan Arora (m. 1957, div. 1974); Salim Khan (m. 1981 – present) |
| Children | Adoptive daughter Arpita Khan; step‑mother to Salman, Arbaaz, Sohail, and Alvira Khan |
Early Life
Helen was born to George Desmier, an Anglo‑Indian father, and Marlene, a Burmese mother, in Rangoon during the British colonial period. Her childhood was disrupted by World War II. Her father died or went missing during the war, and the family fled the Japanese invasion of Burma by trekking on foot through the forests and hills to reach Assam in India around 1942–43.
The family later moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), where they struggled financially. Helen left school early to support the family and eventually found work as a group dancer in films.
Helen Education
There is no record of her completing higher education. Because of war, displacement, and financial hardship, Helen’s formal schooling stopped at a young age.
Instead of college degrees, she received informal training in classical and film dances. She first learned Manipuri dance, and later studied Bharatanatyam and Kathak under choreographer P. L. Raj, which helped her build strong technique behind her famous cabaret style.
Helen Career
Entry into Films
Helen entered Hindi cinema in the early 1950s as a chorus dancer after being introduced by famous dancer Cuckoo, who was then a big name in Bollywood dance. She first appeared in the background of films like Awara (1951) and worked in many ensemble dance sequences.
Her big breakthrough as a solo performer came with the song “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” in Howrah Bridge (1958), which made her an overnight sensation and established her as the top cabaret dancer of Hindi cinema.
Queen of Cabaret and Item Numbers
From the late 1950s through the 1970s, Helen became the go‑to performer for club songs, cabaret numbers, and vamp roles. She appeared in hit films such as:
- Howrah Bridge (1958) – “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu”
- China Town (1962)
- Gumnaam (1965) – “Is Duniya Mein Jeena Ho Toh”
- Teesri Manzil (1966)
- Don (1978) – “Yeh Mera Dil Yaar Ka Deewana”
- Sholay (1975) – as the gypsy dancer in “Mehbooba Mehbooba” sequence
She appeared in over 750 films, often in short but unforgettable dance sequences that lifted the commercial appeal of a movie. Her costumes, expressions, and choreography set the template for future item songs in Bollywood.
Transition to Character Roles
After the 1980s, as cabaret styles changed and she grew older, Helen slowly moved into character roles, playing mothers, aunts, and supportive elder women in films such as Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Mohabbatein (2000).
Her graceful screen presence helped her stay relevant beyond her dancing years, and younger generations discovered her through these later roles.
Awards and Recognition
- Filmfare Award – Best Supporting Actress for Lahu Ke Do Rang (1980).
- Padma Shri (2009) – for her contribution to Indian cinema, officially recognising her impact as a performer.
Film historians and critics often describe her as the most iconic cabaret dancer in Hindi film history and a major influence on modern Bollywood dance numbers.
Helen Family Table
Helen Net Worth
Exact figures vary, but multiple Bollywood and lifestyle reports estimate Helen net worth in the range of ₹200–₹240 crore (approximately USD 25–30 million) as of the mid‑2020s.
Her wealth comes from:
- Earnings from over 700–750 films as a dancer and actress
- Long career spanning more than six decades
- Investments and real estate, including her residence with the Khan family in Mumbai’s Galaxy Apartments area
Some social media pages claim even higher speculative figures, but conservative estimates around a few hundred crore rupees are more widely repeated.
