Helen’s Harrowing Nine-Month Escape During The Japanese Invasion
Helen, the ‘golden girl’ of Hindi cinema, turns 86 today, a milestone in a life filled with unparalleled trials and triumphs. While she dazzled audiences in the 1960s and 70s with her iconic cabaret performances, few know the heart-wrenching story of her early years, marked by starvation, loss, and survival. As a three-year-old, Helen fled Burma (now Myanmar) during the Japanese invasion in 1941, embarking on a harrowing nine-month journey to India on foot, accompanied by her mother, younger brother, and a group of fellow refugees.
A Childhood Torn By War
Born to a French father and a half-Spanish, half-Burmese mother named Marlene, Helen’s early years were shattered by the ravages of World War II. After her father’s untimely death, Marlene remarried a British officer, and the family was stationed in Burma. However, as Japanese forces bombed the region mercilessly, the family’s life was thrown into chaos.
In a 1964 interview with Filmfare, Helen described the terror they faced. “Burma was being bombed relentlessly. My mother packed a few things, and we went to the airport, but the aerodrome was attacked that very night. Scared and helpless, we had to return home.”
With their stepfather already killed in the war, Helen’s family was left with no choice but to flee. Joining a group of Burmese refugees heading to India, they embarked on a perilous trek through bombed-out villages and treacherous terrain.
Walking Through Hell
The journey to Dibrugarh in Assam lasted nine grueling months, during which Helen’s family battled starvation, illness, and unrelenting fear. As Helen recounted years later, only half of the group survived the ordeal. “We were reduced to skeletons,” she shared, vividly recalling the harrowing trek. “My brother’s condition was critical, and we spent two months in a hospital after finally reaching India.”
The horrors Helen witnessed during this time left an indelible mark. In a television interview with Nasreen Munni Kabir, she described a haunting memory: “I can still remember running past a shop that had been bombed. There were bits of hair, blood, and skull on the walls.”
Tragedy After Survival
Reaching India did not mark the end of Helen’s hardships. While recovering in Assam, her younger brother succumbed to smallpox, a devastating loss for the family. Adding to their grief, Helen revealed in a 2023 interview with her stepson Arbaaz Khan that her mother had been pregnant during the trek but suffered a miscarriage due to the harsh conditions. “We were three – my mother, my little brother, and me. My mother lost my little sister during the journey,” Helen shared, her voice heavy with emotion.
From Calcutta To Bombay: A New Beginning
After some time in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Helen and her mother moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in search of a better life. It was here that Helen began working in films at a young age to support her family. Initially taking on small roles, she gradually gained recognition for her dance performances, eventually becoming one of the most sought-after performers in Bollywood.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Helen’s cabaret numbers became synonymous with glamour and sophistication. Her sultry moves and captivating screen presence elevated even the smallest roles, earning her the title of Bollywood’s ‘H-Bomb.’ From “Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja” to “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu,” Helen’s songs remain iconic to this day.
A Life Marked By Resilience
Despite her glamorous image, Helen never forgot the trials she endured as a child. Her journey from a starving refugee to a Bollywood icon is a testament to her resilience and determination. In her interviews, she often credited her mother, Marlene, for her survival and success, recalling her mother’s strength in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Helen’s story is not just one of fame and success but also of survival against the odds. Her life serves as an inspiration, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit even in the darkest of times.