Helen reveals she travelled to Paris to source real feathers for iconic cabaret costumes

The legendary dancer and actor opens up on India’s Best Dancer about going to global lengths to stay ahead of the fashion curve
Helen reveals she travelled to Paris to source real feathers for iconic cabaret costumes
Helen
Updated on
2 min read

Bollywood superstar dancer and veteran actress Helen, made a surprising revelation behind her iconic dance costumes for her special dance numbers in superhit movies back in the golden era of Bollywood.

Bringing global glamour to classic Indian cinema

The actress, who will be seen on the dance reality show, India's Best Dancer as a special guest, made the exciting revelations about her fashion statements she made back in her prime days in Bollywood.

During the show, Jaaved Jaaferi, who is seen on the show, in the capacity of a judge, highlighted how Helen redefined fashion and glamour in Indian cinema.

He added how she went on to break social norms and set trends with her daring outfits and unmatched grace.

Helen reveals she travelled to Paris to source real feathers for iconic cabaret costumes
Helen in a pink flamenco-style sequinned gown, designed by Bhanu Athaiya for the movie Teesri Manzi

Responding to the praise, Helen revealed her hands on approach to bringing global trends to Indian silver screens, furter sharing how she personally sourced dynamic fashion elements like eye lenses from across the world.

"I went to London and brought back colored lenses blue, brown, green along with special eyelashes. My headgears were made by my hairdresser, and I even went to Paris to source real feathers for my costumes. My jewelry, giant goggles, and accessories were all picked to stay ahead of the time."

Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, who is a part of India's Best Dancer as a judge, shared a nostalgic memory passed down from her family about Helen's magnetic presence on set.

She said, "My mother used to tell me that whenever Helen Ji stepped onto the set, a respectful hush would fall over everyone, much like when Shammi Kapoor arrived."

Karisma mentioned that Helen used to pick up steps on the spot during rehearsals.

Helen reveals she travelled to Paris to source real feathers for iconic cabaret costumes
Helen

(My mother used to tell me that whenever Helen Ji walked onto the set, a respectful silence would instantly fall over everyone just as it did when Shammi Kapoor arrived.)

For the uninitiated, Helen's glamourous feathered costumes became one of the defining visual signatures of Hindi cinema's golden era.

From the iconic Piya Tu Ab To Aaja in Caravan to Mehbooba Mehbooba in Sholay, Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu in Howrah Bridge, Yeh Mera Dil in Don and Aa Jaane Jaan in Inteqam amongst many others, Helen's feather boas, headpieces and sequinned outfits transformed cabaret performances into unforgettable moments from the respective movies. She set a benchmark in the world of Bollywood fashion with her bold choices and trendsetter outfits.

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