veteran actor helenReturning to the screen with Brown brought back a flood of memories for his co-stars. when Sony Razdan Remembers time spent with Helen and her husband Salim Khan In the early days of his relationship with Mahesh Bhatt, Karishma Kapoor He shared childhood stories from his mother. Babita KapoorAbout the extraordinary talent of the iconic dancer.Speaking to Screen, Soni revealed that he first met Helen decades ago when she was dating filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. The actor remembers occasional outings with Helen and Salim Khan in the mid-1980s.“I actually met Helen many years ago, when I was dating my husband. We used to go on double dates – Helen and Salim sahib, and Mahesh and me,” Soni says with a laugh.The actor explained that Mahesh Bhatt and Salim Khan then collaborated on the 1986 film Naam. Although the couple often met socially, Soni noted that such outings were not very frequent.“We went to his house often, and once in a while to Helen’s house. I would say double dates, but that didn’t happen often either. We were all very young. It was a different equation and a different time,” he recalls.
Karisma Kapoor remembers hearing Helen’s story from her mother
For Karisma Kapoor, Brown marked her first opportunity to work with Helen, although the veteran actor has collaborated with several members of the Kapoor family over the years.Reflecting on Helen’s influence, Karisma said she grew up watching the star’s songs and hearing stories from her mother, Babita Kapoor, who worked with her in several films.“Being a dancer, growing up around dancers and learning dance meant watching his films and listening to his songs. My mother used to tell me stories that he was a perfect dancer,” shares Karishma.He went on to recall a particular anecdote that has always stayed with him. “I distinctly remember my mother telling me that she would come on set, just watch the assistant choreographer doing the step, and just knock it out! I think it’s an art.”
‘Having him on set was inspiring’
Helen, now 87, returned to acting for Brown after a long hiatus from the screen. The series was filmed in 2022, when he was 83 years old.Appreciating the veteran actor’s strength and dedication, Karisma said, “Helen Aunty is simply amazing. Such a huge fan of hers! Just to have her on set at her older age and be so active and involved, was very inspiring.”
