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The lady who put Kareena to shame

The ever-graceful Helen steers clear of nostalgia

By Shoma A Chatterji . Jan 22, 2008

How do you look back to the past?

I don't. I live only in the present. That’s why when people ask me whether I liked Kareena perform Yeh Mera Dil in Don, I always tell them that she has done a wonderful job. I have completely forgotten my own performance in Don. So, for me it’s as if I am seeing the performance for the first time. I am now leading a life of semi-retirement with my husband Salim who was by my side in my most difficult days. I am thrilled with the success of my stepchildren Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail Khan and their families. We have also adopted a daughter, Arpita.

How did you gravitate to character roles?

They just happened. It was not a conscious decision at all. I played a character role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi and offers began to follow. This was followed by Mohabbatein in which I played the prim and proper headmistress of a girls' school. I also did Marigold last year apart from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam where I played a significant role as Salman's mother some years ago. I have also done some character roles in the '70s and '80s.

There have been books written on you and even a documentary by Merchant-Ivory productions. How do you react to these tributes?

I feel deeply honoured is all I can say. Yes, Jerry Pinto authored Helen- the Life and Times of an H-Bomb, published by Penguin a couple of years ago. In 1973, Merchant-Ivory productions made Helen – Queen of Nautch Girls, a 30-minute documentary on my career as a dancer. Some years back, Eisha Marjara, made a feature film making generous references to my influence on her childhood and adolescence.

The Lifetime Achievement Award from Filmfare in 1998 is my greatest pride.

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comments

Same here. Why drag kareena in this muck. Keep it clean and praise helen for all the goodness and beauty she was... Kareena is probably good in her own might (she is an actress afterall, trying to dance, and god knows what had happened to those yester year role bits where helen had acted :d)

Manoj Jan 23, 2008 at 06:41 PM

Good article...... But, i am unable to understand the heading of the topic! In what way is this related to kareena?!

Nandan Jan 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM

There is no doubt that helen is the best dancer that bollywood can ever get.

XXXXXX Jan 22, 2008 at 07:59 PM

There is no doubt that helen is the best dancer that bollywood can ever get.

XXXXXX Jan 22, 2008 at 07:59 PM

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