Helen, Queen of Dance, is 76 Today

Bollywood siren Helen, who made cabaret respectable in Hindi cinema, is a year older today.

On this special day, we take a pictorial journey through Helen's personal and professional life.

Helen Richardson was born to an Anglo-Indian father and a Burmese mother on November 21, 1938, in Burma. She lost her father in the Second World War.

Helen has a brother, Roger, and a sister Jennifer.

Her family trekked from Burma to Mumbai through Assam and Kolkata in the year 1943 to escape the Japanese occupation.

In Mumbai, times were hard. The family could not live on Mrs Richardson's salary as a nurse and the teeneaged Helen was forced to quit school to support her family.

However, help was at hand. Family friend Cukoo Moray, an actress and dancer, introduced the young Helen to Bollywood and got her a job as a chorus dancer in films like Shabistan and the hit 1951 film Awara, starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

Helen was soon promoted to solo dancer in Alif Laila (1954) and Hoor-e-Arab (1955). There was no looking back for young Helen, who soon started featuring as a solo dancer in films like Alif Laila (1954) and Hoor-e-Arab (1955).

At 19, Helen got her big break in Howrah Bridge (1958), starring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar, in which she performed on the peppy number Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu. The song was sung by Geeta Dutt and Helen played a dancer from Shanghai. Not only did Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu make Helen's career, it also marked a turning point in Geeta Dutt's.

Soon after, offers started pouring in during the 1960s and 70s.

Helen was cast in hit movies like Teesri Manzil (1966), Jewel Thief (1967), Intaqam (1969), Caravan (1971) and the landmark Sholay (1975).

In Piya Tu Ab To Aaja from Caravan, Helen breathed life into a now-cult song sung by Asha Bhosle. Her dance moves, shimmering red dress and trademark blonde wig are the stuff of filmy legend.

Helen was not just relegated to item numbers, her roles also established her as an actress of some repute. In 1965, Helen was nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in Gumnaam.

Writer Salim Khan helped Helen land roles in some of his films like Sholay (1975), Immaan Dharam (1977), Don (1978), Dostana (1980), and Sholay, which he co-scripted with Javed Akhtar. Among her most memorable performances was Mehbooba Mehbooba in Sholay, which stood out in the film, crowded though it was with towering performances and unforgettable characters.

Equally unforgettable was Helen's performance of Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana from Don (1978) and O Haseena Zulfowali from Teesri Manzil (1966).

In the year 1979, Helen won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in Mahesh Bhatt's Lahu Ke Do Rang.

In 1981, Helen married Salim Khan, who was already married to Sushila Charak and was the father of four. Helen and Salim adopted a girl named Arpita. Today, the Khans are a tightly knit family with Helen sharing warm relationships with both Salim Khan's first wife and with her step-children - actors Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail, and designer Alvira.

Helen officially retired from movies in 1983 but has since made a comeback with character roles in movies like Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), in which she played the role of Salman Khan's mother, Mohabbatein (2000) Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006) and Heroine (2012).

In the year 2009, Helen received the Padma Shri along with actors Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar. We wish Helen a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.