Helen
Acting
Born October 22, 1939, Rangoon, Burma. [now Yangôn, Myanmar]
Helen Ann Richardson Khan (born October 22, 1939), known by her mononym Helen, is an Indian former actress and dancer of Anglo-Indian and Burmese descent. In a career spanning 70 years, she has established herself as a prolific performer in Hindi cinema and appeared in over 1000 films. During her heydays, she was cited as one of the most popular nautch and cabaret dancers, and has been a recipient of two Filmfare Awards and a Padma Shri, awarded by the Indian Government. She has also been the inspiration for four films and a book. She even performed onstage in London, Paris, and Hong Kong. Officially announcing retirement in 1983, she has since been appearing in films as guest roles or cameos.
Filmography
- Brown — Aunt Bertha
- 2012Heroine — Shagufta Rizvi
- 2012Jodi Breakers
- 2010Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun...
- 2007Marigold
- 2006Humko Deewana Kar Gaye — Kitty Kohli
- 2005Anjaane: The Unkown — Aunty
- 2004Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa — Dhani's Grandmother
- 2002Shararat — Anuradha Mathur
- 2000Mohabbatein — Miss Monica
- 1999Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam — Sameer's mom
- 1997Aakhri Sanghursh — Meena
- 1996Khamoshi: The Musical — Maria Braganza
- 1991Akayla — Seema's Mother
- 1985Bond 303
- 1984Pakhandee
- 1982Ayaash
- 1982Chorni — Dancer
- 1982Sawaal
- 1982Troyee — Bar Dancer
- 1981Bulundi — Item dancer in "Tera Dil O Re Babu"
- 1981Sannata
- 1981Shakka — Janki
- 1980Abdullah — Item Dancer
- 1980Billa — Reena
- 1980Bombay 405 Miles — Rita (Master's wife)
- 1980Dostana — Sylvia
- 1980Garam Khoon — Dancer
- 1980Humkadam — Suzie John
- 1980Ram Balram — Tara Bai
- 1979Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum — Cabaret dancer
- 1979Do Shikaari — Bar Dancer
- 1979Duniya Meri Jeb Mein — Bar Singer & Dancer
- 1979Hema Hemeelu — Special appearance
- 1979Jhoota Kahin Ka — Cabaret dancer
- 1979Lahu Ke Do Rang — Suzy
- 1979Prem Bandhan
- 1979Raakhi Ki Saugandh
- 1979The Great Gambler — Monica (Dancer)
- 1978Apna Khoon — Dancer
- 1978Besharam — Item Dancer
- 1978Don — Kamini
- 1978Phandebaaz — Club Dancer
- 1978Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan
- 1977Aakhri Sajda
- 1977Agent Vinod — Lovelina
- 1977Amar Akbar Anthony — Fake Daughter At Airport (Guest Appearance)
- 1977For Your Sake — Shola
- 1977Immaan Dharam — Jenny Francis
- 1977Inkaar — Dancer at bar in song
- 1977Kacha Chor
- 1977Khoon Pasina — Dancer
- 1976Aap Beati — Rita
- 1976Alibaba
- 1976Bairaag — Lucy
- 1976Deewaangee — Kitty
- 1976Ginny And Johnny
- 1976Kalicharan — Dancer
- 1976One Better Than the Other
- 1976Sharafat Chod Di Maine
- 1975Andhera
- 1975Dharmatma — Dancer
- 1975Kaala Sona — Chameli
- 1975Saazish — Lola - Singer / Dancer on ship
- 1975Sholay — Gypsy Dancer
- 1975Zakhmee
- 1974Benaam
- 1974Chhote Sarkar — Kasturi
- 1974Geetaa Mera Naam — Savitri
- 1974Jab Andhera Hota Hai — Alka
- 1974Madhosh — Mona / Mrs Goldie
- 1974Ujala Hi Ujala — Dancer / Singer
- 1973Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar
- 1973Anamika — Rubai
- 1973Bada Kabutar — Dancer
- 1973Chhalia — Mona
- 1973Heera — Dancer
- 1973Khoon Khoon
- 1973Shareef Budmaash — Carmen / Rita
- 1973Sultana Daku
- 1973Taxi Driver
- 1972Apradh — Cabaret Dancer / Singer
- 1972Bhale Huchcha — Item Dancer
- 1972Bindiya aur bandook
- 1972Dil Daulat Duniya
- 1972Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche — Bar Dancer (uncredited)
- 1972Mere Jeevan Saathi — Kamini
- 1972Pistolwali
- 1972Raja Jani
- 1972Rakhi Aur Hathkadi — Mrs. Reen
- 1972Sange Muzhangu
- 1972Sazaa — Kitty
- 1972Victoria No. 203 — Girl On Beach
- 1972Yaar Mera — Rosie
- 1971Aag Aur Daag
- 1971Adhikar — Cabaret Dancer
- 1971Caravan — Monica
- 1971Elaan
- 1971Hulchul — Kitty D'Costa
- 1971Hum Tum Aur Woh
- 1971Jaane Anjaane — Suzy
- 1971Kathputli — Roma
- 1971Man Mandir
- 1971Maryada
- 1971Nadaan — Rita Saxena
- 1971Parwana — Cabaret Dancer
- 1971Preetam — Sarita
- 1971Scattered Pearls — Club dancer
- 1970Bombay Talkie — Heroine in Gold
- 1970Inspector
- 1970Ishq Par Zor Nahin
- 1970Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? — Rita
- 1970Maharaja
- 1970Pagla Kahin Ka
- 1970Princess — (Special Appearce- Dancer in the Item Number)
- 1970Sau Saal Beet Gaye
- 1970The Train — Lily
- 1970Tum Haseen Main Jawan — Jina (Ranjeet's wife)
- 1969Anjan Hai Koyee
- 1969Bhai Bahen
- 1969Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati — Sherry
- 1969Intaquam — Rebecca
- 1969Jahan Pyar Miley
- 1969Lady Killer
- 1969Prince — Sophia
- 1969Pyar Hi Pyar — Cham Cham
- 1969Pyar Ka Sapna — Jenny
- 1969Pyasi Shaam — Life-size cardboard cut-out
- 1969Sachaai
- 1969Shatranj
- 1969THIEF OF BAGHDAD — Yasmin
- 1969Talash
- 1969Toofan
- 1969Yakeen — Night Club performer (song "Bachke")
- 1968Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool — Neelam
- 1968Anjaam — Nikita
- 1968Aulad — Courtesan
- 1968Baazi
- 1968Golden Eyes
- 1968Kahin Din Kahin Raat — Helen
- 1968Kismat — Nancy
- 1968Shikar — Veera
- 1967Bahu Begum — Courtesan
- 1967C.I.D. 909 — Sophia
- 1967Chand Par Chadayee — Dancer / Singer
- 1967Dil Ne Pukara — Jyoti
- 1967Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
- 1967Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan
- 1967Jaal
- 1967Jewel Thief — Helen
- 1967Night in London — Sue / Jameela
- 1967Noorjehan — Dilruba
- 1967Raat Andheri Thi
- 1966Afsana
- 1966Badal
- 1966Biradari
- 1966Dus Lakh
- 1966Insaaf
- 1966Love and Murder — Juliet
- 1966Sarhadi Lutera
- 1966Smuggler — Dancer
- 1966Tasveer — Alka
- 1966Teesri Manzil — Ruby
- 1966Thakur Jarnail Singh
- 1966Yeh Raat Phir Na Aaygi — Dancer / Singer (uncredited)
- 1965Faraar
- 1965Flying Man
- 1965Gumnaam — Miss Kitty
- 1965Kaajal — Courtesan
- 1965Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain — Shabnam
- 1965Nishan
- 1965Shankar Sita Ansuya — Dancer
- 1965Sinbad, Alibaba and Aladdin
- 1965Tarzan Comes to Delhi
- 1964Aaya Toofan — Princess Chandavarti
- 1964Cha Cha Cha — Lali
- 1964Shabnam — Sabha
- 1964Woh Kaun Thi — Seema
- 1964Zindagi
- 1963Bidesiya
- 1963Harishchandra Taramati — Dancer
- 1963Kabli Khan — Haseena
- 1963Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram
- 1963Parasmani
- 1963Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya — Rita
- 1963Shikari — Shoba
- 1963Sunehri Nagin — Princess
- 1963Taj Mahal — Tawaif/ Court Dancer
- 1963Ustadon Ke Ustad — Rita
- 1962China Town — Suzie
- 1962Dr. Vidya
- 1962Half Ticket — Stage Dancer
- 1962Hawa Mahal — Champakali
- 1962Main Chup Rahungi — Menka
- 1961Do Bhai — Courtesan
- 1961Gunga Jumna — Courtesan
- 1961Junglee — Miss Suku
- 1961Maya — Banke's darling
- 1961Miss Chalbaaz — Roopa
- 1961Mr. India — Rita
- 1961Sapne Suhane — Nimmo dancer
- 1960Angulimala
- 1960Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai — Cabaret Dancer
- 1960Dr. Shaitan
- 1960Ghunghat — Dancer
- 1960Hum Hindustani
- 1960Jaali Note
- 1960Kala Bazar
- 1960Lal Quila
- 1960Superman
- 1960Tu Nahin Aur Sahi
- 1959Duniya Na Mane
- 1959Gali Theke Rajpath — Dancer
- 1959Insaan Jaag Utha — Dancer (uncredited)
- 1959Kangan — wedding entertainer
- 1959Love Marriage — Dancer (in a special appearance)
- 1958Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi — Dancer / Singer
- 1958Howrah Bridge — Dancer / Singer
- 1958Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala
- 1958Karigar — Bar Dancer
- 1958Night Club — Special Appearance
- 1958Yahudi
- 1957Coffee House
- 1957Mr. X
- 1957Naag Mani
- 1957Nau Do Gyarah
- 1957Yahoodi Ki Ladki
- 1956Delhi Durbar
- 1956Halaku
- 1956Marma Veeran — Narthaki (special appearance)
- 1956Sipahsalar
- 1955Abe Hayat — Dancer
- 1955Miss Coca Cola
- 1955Pehli Jhalak — Dancer
- 1955Santosham — Dancer
- 1954Alibaba and 40 Thieves — Dancer / Singer
- 1954Mayurpankh
- 1952Amber — Dancer
- 1951Awaara — Chorus girl
- 1951Khazana
Appearances as themselves (8)
- Angry Young Men — Self
- The Kapil Sharma Show — Self
- Comedy Nights Bachao — Self
- Indian Idol — Self
- 1999Desperately Seeking Helen — Self (archive footage)
- 1977Chala Murari Hero Banne — Self
- 1973Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls — Herself
- 1972Gomti Ke Kinare — Herself