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Economic Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Salman Khan's family member lost her parent in World War II, walked 900 kilometers after her country was invaded
Synopsis Helen Ann Richardson's journey to Bollywood stardom was marked by early hardship. Following her father's death in World War II, her family undertook a harrowing migration to India, facing immense loss and struggle. With the help of a family friend, she entered the film industry, achieving iconic status through her dance performances and solidifying her legacy in Bollywood. Agencies Helen in the 'Don' song 'Yeh Mera Dil' Helen Ann Richardson's rise to become Bollywood's evergreen dance icon was not a product of predestined glamour, but rather the culmination of a series of turbulent life experiences. Born to an Anglo-Indian father and a Burmese mother, she was one of three children in the family. Her early years were overshadowed by tragedy when her father was killed during World War II, an event that would change the course of their lives. Following this devastating loss, the family decided to abandon their home and flee, embarking on a journey that would prove both physically punishing and emotionally a 1964 interview with Filmfare , Helen vividly recounted this exodus. She described how they alternated between trekking through dense wilderness and trudging across countless villages, surviving only because of the kindness of strangers. The family had no money, carried little food, and possessed only a few pieces of clothing. Occasionally, they encountered British soldiers who provided transportation, temporary shelter, medical attention for their blistered feet and bruised bodies, and much-needed meals. Helen revealed that her family was part of a larger migration group with the goal of reaching Dibrugarh in Assam, nearly 900 kilometers away. By the time they arrived, the group's numbers had been halved—some had succumbed to illness, some were left behind, and others perished from starvation. In the same interview, she shared that her mother, who had been pregnant during the journey, suffered a decades later to her stepson Arbaaz Khan on Bollywood Bubble, Helen recalled that there were roughly 300 to 350 people in their migration party. For her own family, it was just her mother, her younger brother, and herself—both children at the time. Her mother's pregnancy ended tragically during the journey, and she lost the baby girl who would have been Helen's younger finally reaching Assam, Helen's entire family was hospitalised due to exhaustion and illness. Once recovered, they relocated to Kolkata. But tragedy struck again when Helen's younger brother, who had been in critical condition upon arrival in India, contracted smallpox and died shortly thereafter. The family eventually moved to Mumbai, but the financial strain of city life proved overwhelming. Helen's mother found it increasingly difficult to cover even basic expenses.A lifeline appeared in the form of Cuckoo, a renowned Bollywood dancer and a family friend, who decided to help Helen. In an interview with , Helen recalled that she initially worked as a chorus dancer in various films before landing solo performances in Alif Laila (1953) and Hoor-e-Arab (1955). However, her career's pivotal turning point came in 1958 when she performed the now-iconic 'Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo' sequence in Shakti Samanta's Howrah Bridge. Composer O.P. Nayyar's lively score provided the perfect backdrop, and Helen's captivating performance at just 19 years old solidified her place in the industry. This success came at the cost of her formal education, which she abandoned to support her mother and manage household Howrah Bridge, Helen became one of Bollywood's most recognisable performers, known for her unique style and commanding stage presence. She frequently collaborated with celebrated playback singer Geeta Dutt, whose voice complemented Helen's on-screen persona in numerous productions. Yet, despite her growing fame, Helen often found herself typecast, sidelined to supporting roles that allowed the film's lead actress to remain the primary so, her talent shone in films such as Gumnaam (1965), China Town (1969), and Sachaai (1969), the first of which earned her a Filmfare nomination. With the encouragement and professional support of screenwriter Salim Khan—whom she married in 1981—Helen began securing more prominent roles. She went on to appear in enduring classics such as Don, Sholay, and Dostana. Her performance in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay remains one of Bollywood's most memorable musical sequences, in which she danced effortlessly to R.D. Burman's energetic composition while the villain Gabbar Singh looked on with calculated her commercial success, Helen never lost sight of her humble beginnings or the immense struggles her mother endured to protect her children. Her life and career have been well documented, most notably in the 1973 documentary Helen, The Queen of the Nautch Girls and Jerry Pinto's 2006 book Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb. Over her nearly 70-year career, Helen has appeared in more than 500 films. Her final screen appearance was in Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine (2015), which featured Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Shahana Goswami, and Divya Helen remains married to acclaimed screenwriter Salim Khan, a key figure in Bollywood's golden era of storytelling. She is also the stepmother of superstar Salman Khan, one of the most prominent actors in Indian cinema.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sholay actor's father was killed in the World War 2, she walked 900 kms to escape same fate; mother had a miscarriage and brother died of smallpox
Helen Ann Richardson wasn't necessarily born to become the most recognisable cabaret dancer of Bollywood; rather, a series of events and life-altering episodes brought her to Bollywood's door. The actor was born to an Anglo-Indian father and a Burmese mother. One of three children, Helen had experienced tragedy very early in her life, when her father was killed during World War 2. The family decided to pack up their belongings and flee the country, a trip that would change their lives forever. In 1964, Helen recalled the arduous journey in an interview with Filmfare, and said, '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, treated our blistered feet and bruised bodies and fed us.' Helen's family was part of a larger group, and their goal was to reach Dibrugarh in Assam, which was roughly 900 km away. She said in the same interview that by the time they reached Assam, their group 'had been reduced to half, as some had fallen ill and were left behind, while some died of starvation, and my mother had a miscarriage.' During a conversation with her stepson Arbaaz Khan on Bollywood Bubble, Helen recalled how, 'About 300-350 people migrated. In my family, there was my mother, my little brother, and me. We were both little, and my mother was pregnant, too. And she lost my little sister there.' ALSO READ: Asha Parekh shares dinner date photo with BFFs Waheeda Rehman and Helen; fans say, 'Legendary ladies in one frame' Upon reaching Assam, the entire family was hospitalised, and they shifted to Kolkata right after their recovery. Helen's brother, who was in critical condition when he reached India, contracted smallpox and died shortly after. Soon they moved to Mumbai, but the city proved too much from a financial point of view, and Helen's mother was struggling to manage the expenses of the family. Enter another famed Bollywood actor/dancer, Cuckoo, who happened to be a family friend and decided to lend a hand. In an interview with the actor recalled the nascent stage of her career and said, 'After being a chorus girl in many films, I finally landed solo dance numbers in Alif Laila (1953) and Hoor-e-Arab (1955.)' But the turning point came with the 'Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo' number in Shakti Samanta's Howrah Bridge in 1958. OP Nayyar's brilliant music gave the song the zing that it demanded.' Notably, Helen was just 19 when she had to abandon her education and help her mother take care of the house. She shot to fame after that performance, and everyone took notice of the talent and panache she possessed. Geeta Dutt and Helen became frequent collaborators, and the singer voiced the dancer on several notable occasions. Even though Helen was climbing the ladder to success, she was bogged down with the same roles, where she would often step aside for the female lead. Her acting prowess shone through in films like Gumnaam (1965), China Town (1969), and Sachaai (1969), and she even got nominated for a Filmfare for the former. With the help of Salim Khan, whom Helen married in 1981, she bagged some more influential roles in films like Don, Sholay, and Dostana. Her appearance Ramesh Sippy's Sholay, is one of the most recognisable music sequences in the history of Bollywood, in which she dances effortlessly along with RD Burman's grunt filled vocals, while the cunning and disoriented villain Gabbar looks on. Even though Helen had a successful career, she never forgot where she came from and often talked about the difficulties her mother faced while trying to save herself and her children. Helen's riveting story has been documented quite well, especially in the 1973 documentary Helen, The Queen of the Nautch Girls, and the 2006 book by Jerry Pinto titled Helen: The Life and the Times of an H-Bomb. She has more than 500 film credited to her name, and has a career spanning almost 70 years. Her last appearance in a film was in the Madhur Bhandarkar directorial Heroine (2015), alongside Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Shahana Goswami, and Divya Dutta.
