Soni Razdan recalls double dates with Helen and Salim Khan in the 1980s

Helen and Salim Khan Went on Double Dates with Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, Reveals Actress

Veteran actress Soni Razdan recently shared a nostalgic anecdote about her early days with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, revealing that the couple used to go on double dates with Helen and Salim Khan during the mid-1980s. The revelation came during a conversation about her experience working alongside Helen in the ZEE5 crime thriller series Brown, directed by Abhinay Deo.

Razdan reminisced about her first meeting with Helen, which took place when she was dating Mahesh Bhatt. She explained, “We used to go on double dates — Helen and Salim sahab, and Mahesh and me.” The connection between the couples stemmed from Bhatt’s collaboration with Salim Khan on the 1986 crime thriller Naam, which starred Sanjay Dutt, Kumar Gaurav, and Amrita Singh. Razdan added that while they occasionally visited each other’s homes, these outings were rare due to their busy schedules. “It was a different equation and a different time,” she recalled.

The bond between Razdan and Helen added depth to their on-screen interactions in Brown, where Helen played an aunt to Karisma Kapoor’s character, while Razdan portrayed her mother. Reflecting on working with Helen, Razdan said, “It was lovely because she’s really, really funny. The scenes were written that way, but she just gave them that extra punch.”

Meanwhile, Karisma Kapoor shared her own memories of Helen, whom she had admired since childhood. Growing up in a family of actors and dancers, Karisma often heard stories from her mother, Babita Kapoor, about Helen’s exceptional dancing skills. Babita had worked with Helen in several films, including Dus Lakh (1966), Kismat (1968), and Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? (1970). Karisma recalled her mother describing Helen’s ability to effortlessly master dance steps after observing them just once. “I think that’s just an art,” she said.

Karisma finally had the opportunity to share screen space with Helen in Brown, marking a special moment in her career. She praised Helen’s dedication and energy, noting how inspiring it was to work with her at the age of 83, when the show was filmed in 2022. “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,” Karisma added.

Helen, now 87, had largely stepped away from acting after appearing in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine (2012) alongside Kareena Kapoor. However, she made a return to the screen for Brown, showcasing her enduring talent and charm.