MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA: In a heartwarming and revealing interview with Salman Khan‘s brother, Arbaaz Khan on Bollywood Bubble, Bollywood legend Helen, 86, opened up about the serendipitous journey that led her to become one of the most iconic “item dance girl” in Indian cinema.
Recounting her early days in the industry, Helen shared how destiny, the support of her mother, and the mentorship of Cuckoo, a prominent figure in the industry, played pivotal roles in shaping her career.
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Helen reveals how destiny shaped her Bollywood journey
Helen, known for her timeless dance performances in Bollywood, reflected on how fate significantly influenced her rise to stardom.
“I believe in destiny. The Father Almighty is the destiny given to us,” she explained that she feels everything in her life was meant to be and that it guided her to where she is today.
Helen went on to speak about the profound impact her mother had on her career. “My mother was instrumental in getting me into this and I mustn’t forget Cuckoo ji,” she revealed.
Cuckoo, a key figure in the industry, not only introduced Helen to the world of dance but also helped her find her footing in the industry.
“It was my mother who saw Cuckoo going to the studio and shooting every day. She thought that her daughter, Helen, could do something like that,” the 86-year-old shared.
Her mother’s belief in her potential led her to leave school and join Cuckoo’s studio, where she began as a chorus dancer.
Helen reveals how a chance performance led to her first major opportunity
Helen’s journey took a transformative turn when she received the opportunity to perform a solo dance at a young age.
One of the most intriguing moments she recalled was a breakthrough performance during her early days as a chorus dancer.
“There was a shot where I was dancing with the group, and one of the girls had to play the ‘dholak,'” Helen revealed.
She joined a group of 12 to 15 girls, but as the youngest at just 13 or 14 years old, the team initially did not consider her for the role.
She added that nobody could play the rhythm the director wanted, and because she was the youngest, no one asked her.
However, sheer chance called Helen to give it a try. “I played it right,” she added, crediting fate for the opportunity.
She said the director and producer must have seen something in her performance, as they soon cast her in a duet dance number in the same film.
“Take her, the one who played the dholak,” they said, marking the beginning of her rise in the industry.
Helen’s solo performance in ‘Alif Laila’ and the iconic hit ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu’
The performance ultimately led to Helen getting a solo dance role in the film ‘Alif Laila,’ on the song, ‘Mr John Baba khan,’ a key moment in her journey that would define her career.
Although people often linked Helen’s rise to fame with her work as an “item dancer,” she admitted that she never felt entirely comfortable with the term.
“I don’t like that word ‘item,'” she stated and emphasized that she wanted people to see her for her skill and artistry rather than a label.
But it was her unforgettable performance in “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” that solidified her status as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated dancers.
The song, which became a massive hit, turned Helen into a household name and cemented her place in Indian cinematic history.
