Helen Jairag Richardson Khan popularly known as Helen was born on October 21, 1939 in Burma. She is a beautiful, busty and fair-skinned, sex symbolised actress and dancer in Hindi film industry. Helen got her break when 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 such as Alif Laila (1952), Hoor-e-Arab (1953), and number "Mr. John O Baba Khan" in the film Baarish. Helen married Salim Khan, and become his second wife, in 1980. They adopted a girl, Arpita. Indian film actor Salman Khan is her step son and she has in fact acted as his monther in film "Hum dil de Chuke Sanam" a
nd as his grand monther in film "Marigold".
A song sung by Geeta Dutt in the film Howrah Bridge, In 1958 made her famous. The film is of Shakti Samanta and the song was "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu".
She played dramatic roles such as the rape victim in Shakti Samanta's Pagla Kahin Ka (1970). Writer Salim Khan helped her get roles in some of the movies he was co-scripting with Javed Akhtar: Imaam 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. She also performed numerous stage shows in London, Paris, and Hong Kong.
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 was selected for the Padma Shri awards of 2009 along with Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar.
Helen had acted in variousfilm in her career such as:
Awaara (1951), Alif Laila (1952), Hoor-e-Arab (1953), Miss Coca Cola (1955), Taksaal (1956), Changez Khan (1957), Howrah Bridge (1958), Twelve O'Clock (1958), Sawan (1959), Hum Hindustani (1960), Ek Phool char kante (1960), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Gunga Jamuna (1961), Umar Qaid (1961), China Town (1962), Aaya Toofan (1964), Cha Cha Cha (1964), Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Gumnaam (1965), Lutera (1965), Khandan (1965), Kaajal (1965), Aulad (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Dus Lakh (1966), Night In London (1967), Jaal (1967), CID 909(1967), Jewel Thief(1967), Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan(1967), Shikaar(1968), Vaasna(1968), Talaash (1969), Sachchai (1969), Ek Shriman Ek Shrimathi (1969), Prince (1969), Bikhre Moti (1969), Bhai Bahen (1969), Intequam (1969), Ansoo ban gaye phool (1969), Pagla Kahin Ka (1970), The Train (1970), Bombay Talkie (1970), Puraskar (1970), Caravan (1
971), Nadaan (1971), Hulchul (1971), Hungama (1971), Yaar mera (1971), Upasana (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Rakhi aur Hathkadi (1972), Dil Daulat Duniya (1972), Apradh (1972), Dharkhan (1972), Anamika (1973), Shareef Badmash (1973), Aaj ki Taaza Khabar (1973), Geeta Mera Naam (1974), Benaam (1974), Madhosh (1974), Sholay (1975), Andhera (1975), Zakhmee (1975), Kaala Sona (1975), Saazish (1975), Bairaag (1976), Imaan Dharam (1977), Inkaar (1977), Khoon Pasina (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Chala Murari Hero Ban Ne (1977), Don (1978), Be sharam (1978), Swarg Narak (1978), Phandebaaz (1978), Bandi (1978), Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), The Great Gambler (1979), Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Abdullah (1980), Bombay 405 miles (1980), Chhupa chhupee (1981), Bulandi (1981), Raaz (1981), Sawaal (1982), Bond 303 (1986), Parchhayeen (1989), Akayla (1991), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Mohabbatein (2000), Shararat (2002), Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004), Anjaane: The Unknown (2006), Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006), Marigold (2007).
nd as his grand monther in film "Marigold".A song sung by Geeta Dutt in the film Howrah Bridge, In 1958 made her famous. The film is of Shakti Samanta and the song was "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu".
She played dramatic roles such as the rape victim in Shakti Samanta's Pagla Kahin Ka (1970). Writer Salim Khan helped her get roles in some of the movies he was co-scripting with Javed Akhtar: Imaam 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. She also performed numerous stage shows in London, Paris, and Hong Kong.
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 was selected for the Padma Shri awards of 2009 along with Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar.Helen had acted in variousfilm in her career such as:
Awaara (1951), Alif Laila (1952), Hoor-e-Arab (1953), Miss Coca Cola (1955), Taksaal (1956), Changez Khan (1957), Howrah Bridge (1958), Twelve O'Clock (1958), Sawan (1959), Hum Hindustani (1960), Ek Phool char kante (1960), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Gunga Jamuna (1961), Umar Qaid (1961), China Town (1962), Aaya Toofan (1964), Cha Cha Cha (1964), Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Gumnaam (1965), Lutera (1965), Khandan (1965), Kaajal (1965), Aulad (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Dus Lakh (1966), Night In London (1967), Jaal (1967), CID 909(1967), Jewel Thief(1967), Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan(1967), Shikaar(1968), Vaasna(1968), Talaash (1969), Sachchai (1969), Ek Shriman Ek Shrimathi (1969), Prince (1969), Bikhre Moti (1969), Bhai Bahen (1969), Intequam (1969), Ansoo ban gaye phool (1969), Pagla Kahin Ka (1970), The Train (1970), Bombay Talkie (1970), Puraskar (1970), Caravan (1
971), Nadaan (1971), Hulchul (1971), Hungama (1971), Yaar mera (1971), Upasana (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Rakhi aur Hathkadi (1972), Dil Daulat Duniya (1972), Apradh (1972), Dharkhan (1972), Anamika (1973), Shareef Badmash (1973), Aaj ki Taaza Khabar (1973), Geeta Mera Naam (1974), Benaam (1974), Madhosh (1974), Sholay (1975), Andhera (1975), Zakhmee (1975), Kaala Sona (1975), Saazish (1975), Bairaag (1976), Imaan Dharam (1977), Inkaar (1977), Khoon Pasina (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Chala Murari Hero Ban Ne (1977), Don (1978), Be sharam (1978), Swarg Narak (1978), Phandebaaz (1978), Bandi (1978), Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), The Great Gambler (1979), Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Abdullah (1980), Bombay 405 miles (1980), Chhupa chhupee (1981), Bulandi (1981), Raaz (1981), Sawaal (1982), Bond 303 (1986), Parchhayeen (1989), Akayla (1991), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Mohabbatein (2000), Shararat (2002), Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004), Anjaane: The Unknown (2006), Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006), Marigold (2007).