Amitabh Recalls Helen’s Heroic WWII Escape From Burma

MUMBAI (IANS) – Amitabh Bachchan shared an anecdote about the veteran actress Helen and talked about how she had escaped from the Japanese occupation of Burma in 1943, during World War 2, and came to India.

Born in Rangoon, Burma (now known as Myanmar), Helen’s family trekked to Dibrugarh, Assam in 1943 to escape from the Japanese occupation of Burma.

Later on, Helen got her major break at the age of 19 in 1958, when she performed the song ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu’ in the movie ‘Howrah Bridge’.

With legendary actor Shammi Kapoor, she did many hit dance numbers like ‘Suku Suku’ in ‘Junglee’, ‘Yamma Yamma’ in ‘China Town’, and ‘O Haseena Zulfonwali’ in ‘Teesri Manzil’.

Amitabh, who is currently hosting the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ said, “Watching her dance would leave one enthralled.”

Helen has shared the screen with Big B in the movies like ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Don’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘The Great Gambler’ and ‘Ram Balram’.

Talking about the same, Amitabh added: “I had the good fortune of working with her in a few films. She’s a kind and compassionate woman. She used to look after everyone. We pray she stays in good health.”