Soni Razdan recalls double dates with Helen and Salim Khan

Veteran actor Helen’s return to the screen with Brown has sparked a wave of nostalgia among her co-stars. Soni Razdan and Karisma Kapoor recently shared fond memories of the legendary performer, reflecting on her talent and their personal connections with her.

Soni Razdan recalled her early interactions with Helen during the mid-1980s, when she was dating filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. At the time, Bhatt was collaborating with Salim Khan on the 1986 film Naam. Soni revealed that she and Mahesh occasionally went on double dates with Helen and Salim Khan. "We used to go on double dates — Helen and Salim sahab, and Mahesh and me," she said, adding that such outings were rare but memorable.

The actor shared that these meetings often took place at Salim Khan’s home, with occasional visits to Helen’s house. Reflecting on those days, she said, "We were all very young. It was a different equation and a different time."

For Karisma Kapoor, Brown marked her first opportunity to work with Helen, despite the veteran actor’s long history of collaborations with the Kapoor family. Karisma grew up admiring Helen’s performances and listening to stories from her mother, Babita Kapoor, who had worked with Helen in multiple films.

Karisma shared one anecdote from her mother that highlighted Helen’s exceptional talent. "My mom told me she'd come on set, just look at the assistant choreographer doing the step, and just do it bang on! I think that's just an art," she said.

Helen, now 87, returned to acting for Brown after a long hiatus. The series was filmed in 2022, when she was 83 years old. Praising Helen’s energy and dedication, Karisma said, "Helen aunty is just amazing. Such a big fan of hers! Just having her on set at her grand age and being so active and involved was just so inspiring."