Helen
Born: 1939-10-22 in Rangoon, Burma. [now Yangôn, Myanmar]
Known For: Acting
Biography
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
2026
- Brown as Aunt Bertha
2024
- Angry Young Men as Self
2016
- The Kapil Sharma Show as Self
2015
- Comedy Nights Bachao as Self
2012
- Heroine as Shagufta Rizvi
- Jodi Breakers
2007
2006
- Humko Deewana Kar Gaye as Kitty Kohli
2005
- Anjaane: The Unkown as Aunty
2004
- Indian Idol as Self
- Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa as Dhani's Grandmother
2002
- Shararat as Anuradha Mathur
2000
- Mohabbatein as Miss Monica
1999
- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as Sameer's mom
- Desperately Seeking Helen as Self (archive footage)
1997
- Aakhri Sanghursh as Meena
1996
- Khamoshi: The Musical as Maria Braganza
1991
- Akayla as Seema's Mother
1985
1984
1980
- Dostana as Sylvia
- Ram Balram as Tara Bai
- Abdullah as Item Dancer
- Billa as Reena
- Humkadam as Suzie John
- Bombay 405 Miles as Rita (Master's wife)
- Garam Khoon as Dancer
1979
- Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum as Cabaret dancer
- Prem Bandhan
- Hema Hemeelu as Special appearance
- The Great Gambler as Monica (Dancer)
- Raakhi Ki Saugandh
- Duniya Meri Jeb Mein as Bar Singer & Dancer
- Lahu Ke Do Rang as Suzy
- Jhoota Kahin Ka as Cabaret dancer
- Do Shikaari as Bar Dancer
1978
- Don as Kamini
- Apna Khoon as Dancer
- Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan
- Besharam as Item Dancer
- Phandebaaz as Club Dancer
1977
- Amar Akbar Anthony as Fake Daughter At Airport (Guest Appearance)
- Inkaar as Dancer at bar in song
- Chala Murari Hero Banne as Self
- Khoon Pasina as Dancer
- Immaan Dharam as Jenny Francis
- Agent Vinod as Lovelina
- For Your Sake as Shola
- Aakhri Sajda
- Kacha Chor
1976
- Deewaangee as Kitty
- Bairaag as Lucy
- Alibaba
- Kalicharan as Dancer
- Ginny And Johnny
- One Better Than the Other
- Aap Beati as Rita
- Sharafat Chod Di Maine
1975
1974
- Geetaa Mera Naam as Savitri
- Benaam
- Madhosh as Mona / Mrs Goldie
- Chhote Sarkar as Kasturi
- Ujala Hi Ujala as Dancer / Singer
- Jab Andhera Hota Hai as Alka
1973
- Taxi Driver
- Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar
- Khoon Khoon
- Anamika as Rubai
- Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls as Herself
- Sultana Daku
- Shareef Budmaash as Carmen / Rita
- Heera as Dancer
- Bada Kabutar as Dancer
- Chhalia as Mona
1972
- Rakhi Aur Hathkadi as Mrs. Reen
- Pistolwali
- Raja Jani
- Mere Jeevan Saathi as Kamini
- Dil Daulat Duniya
- Gomti Ke Kinare as Herself
- Sazaa as Kitty
- Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche as Bar Dancer (uncredited)
- Yaar Mera as Rosie
- Bhale Huchcha as Item Dancer
- Victoria No. 203 as Girl On Beach
- Bindiya aur bandook
- Apradh as Cabaret Dancer / Singer
- Sange Muzhangu
1971
- Caravan as Monica
- Maryada
- Hulchul as Kitty D'Costa
- Elaan
- Aag Aur Daag
- Parwana as Cabaret Dancer
- Man Mandir
- Adhikar as Cabaret Dancer
- Jaane Anjaane as Suzy
- Hum Tum Aur Woh
- Preetam as Sarita
- Scattered Pearls as Club dancer
- Nadaan as Rita Saxena
- Kathputli as Roma
1970
- Inspector
- Bombay Talkie as Heroine in Gold
- Ishq Par Zor Nahin
- Tum Haseen Main Jawan as Jina (Ranjeet's wife)
- Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? as Rita
- The Train as Lily
- Maharaja
- Pagla Kahin Ka
- Princess as (Special Appearce- Dancer in the Item Number)
- Sau Saal Beet Gaye
1969
- Toofan
- Sachaai
- Pyar Hi Pyar as Cham Cham
- Pyasi Shaam as Life-size cardboard cut-out
- Yakeen as Night Club performer (song "Bachke")
- Prince as Sophia
- Lady Killer
- Talash
- Shatranj
- Intaquam as Rebecca
- Bhai Bahen
- Anjan Hai Koyee
- Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati as Sherry
- Pyar Ka Sapna as Jenny
- THIEF OF BAGHDAD as Yasmin
- Jahan Pyar Miley
1968
- Anjaam as Nikita
- Shikar as Veera
- Baazi
- Kismat as Nancy
- Golden Eyes
- Kahin Din Kahin Raat as Helen
- Aulad as Courtesan
- Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool as Neelam
1967
- Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan
- Dil Ne Pukara as Jyoti
- Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
- C.I.D. 909 as Sophia
- Noorjehan as Dilruba
- Jewel Thief as Helen
- Bahu Begum as Courtesan
- Jaal
- Raat Andheri Thi
- Chand Par Chadayee as Dancer / Singer
- Night in London as Sue / Jameela
1966
- Dus Lakh
- Badal
- Teesri Manzil as Ruby
- Yeh Raat Phir Na Aaygi as Dancer / Singer (uncredited)
- Sarhadi Lutera
- Thakur Jarnail Singh
- Love and Murder as Juliet
- Smuggler as Dancer
- Biradari
- Tasveer as Alka
- Afsana
- Insaaf
1965
- Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain as Shabnam
- Kaajal as Courtesan
- Nishan
- Flying Man
- Sinbad, Alibaba and Aladdin
- Gumnaam as Miss Kitty
- Faraar
- Tarzan Comes to Delhi
1964
- Woh Kaun Thi as Seema
- Aaya Toofan as Princess Chandavarti
- Cha Cha Cha as Lali
- Zindagi
- Shabnam as Sabha
1963
- Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya as Rita
- Sunehri Nagin as Princess
- Taj Mahal as Tawaif/ Court Dancer
- Bidesiya
- Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram
- Shikari as Shoba
- Parasmani
- Ustadon Ke Ustad as Rita
- Kabli Khan as Haseena
1962
- Main Chup Rahungi as Menka
- China Town as Suzie
- Half Ticket as Stage Dancer
- Dr. Vidya
- Hawa Mahal as Champakali
1961
- Maya as Banke's darling
- Junglee as Miss Suku
- Miss Chalbaaz as Roopa
- Gunga Jumna as Courtesan
- Sapne Suhane as Nimmo dancer
- Do Bhai as Courtesan
- Mr. India as Rita
1960
- Dr. Shaitan
- Hum Hindustani
- Kala Bazar
- Superman
- Jaali Note
- Lal Quila
- Tu Nahin Aur Sahi
- Angulimala
- Ghunghat as Dancer
- Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai as Cabaret Dancer
1959
- Love Marriage as Dancer (in a special appearance)
- Insaan Jaag Utha as Dancer (uncredited)
- Kangan as wedding entertainer
- Duniya Na Mane
- Gali Theke Rajpath as Dancer
1958
- Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi as Dancer / Singer
- Yahudi
- Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala
- Karigar as Bar Dancer
- Howrah Bridge as Dancer / Singer
- Night Club as Special Appearance
1956
1955
- Abe Hayat as Dancer
- Pehli Jhalak as Dancer
- Miss Coca Cola
- Santosham as Dancer
1954
- Mayurpankh
- Alibaba and 40 Thieves as Dancer / Singer
1952
- Amber as Dancer