Known and Unknown facts about dancing queen Helen

The queen of dance, popularly known for item numbers, Helen Jairag Richardson has turned 71 today. Bringing in the cabaret dance tradition in B'wood, which was considered to be a daring act during late 50's and 60's, Helen adopted it gracefully and created a mania. As world celebrates her 71st Birthday, we would love to reveal some of her known and Unknown facts.Helen was born to an Anglo-Indian father and Burmese mother.Though the actress has no comparison in dance but her cat-like eyes and wide smile and hips were also the center of attraction and added more charm to her acts.The Diva was considered as a sex symbol in the 1960's and was constantly referred to as the H-Bomb for her sensuous moves.She was the first artist to introduce the cabaret and the belly dance in Indian films which set a trend thereafter and is even followed today.Helen had an eerie resemblance to late 50's Bollywood dancer Madhumati and was at times mistaken for each other.Helen in 1957 married to Bollywood director P.N Arora but left him in 1974 as she found he was spending her money without her consent. During her marital life she became bankrupt and her apartment was seized.Helen met Salim Khan in 1962 on the sets of “Kabli Khan”. She was the lead actress while Salim was in a negative role. Seven years after Helen left Arora she married Salim in 1981 and became his second wife.The couple had a difficult time with sons who were not very happy and the tensions brewed for some time. But later Salim's sons, now Bollywood actors Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail Khan matured and came to terms with it. Helen and Salim Khan have also adopted a daughter named Arpita.Helen is a big fan of American Gene Kelly and Swedish-American Ann Margaret, who were renowned dancer, actor, and singer by profession.Helen always used to wear a burqa in public places due to fear of being harassed. Really can't complain, as she was so erotic in her moves.Till the age of 42 she used to dance wearing those daring outfits which today's girls won't even fit to as they are out by the time they're thirty.Three books were written on her dance career along with a 30-minute documentary called 'Helen Queen of the Nautch girls' which was released in 1973 by Merchant Ivory Productions.Even after she retired from the screen a long time back, Helen continued to make few occasional guest appearances in 1999 and 2000. In Mohabbatein, she plays a no non sense Head of a girl's school who suddenly shakes a leg on the dance floor, much to the surprise and entertainment of the audience. Her special appearance as Salman Khan's mother in "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" was also a delight to watch.Helen's journey in the India Cinema has been amazng and there are n number of moments she has left to cherish for us. We thank this golden lady and wish her a very Happy Birthday.