Background and career
Helen Ann Richardson Khan (née Richardson; born 21 November 1938), known mononymously as Helen, is an Indian actress and dancer. One of the highest-paid dancers of her time, she has appeared in over 750 films, making her a prolific performer in Hindi cinema. Known for her sensual cabaret and nautch performances on screen and glamorous fashion statements, which often incorporated colourful wigs and contact lenses, she is cited in the media as one of the greatest and most popular dancers of India. As an actress, Helen frequently played bold, westernised antagonists in a number of films. In a career spanning over 70 years, she has been called the "Cabaret Queen" of Indian cinema and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009.
