Bollywood fans were in for a delightful treat on latest episode of ‘Indian Idol 16’. Veteran actress Zeenat Aman shared a very, very heartwarming behind-the-scenes story from her early film days with Helen.
Learning from the queen of dance
Zeenat Aman revealed how the legendary dancer-actor Helen became an unofficial mentor to many aspiring actresses including herself. From teaching the perfect way to wear contact lenses to mastering eyelashes and wigs, Helen reportedly set the gold standard on screen. Zeenat, who rose to fame with hits like ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’, said she and other heroines would closely watch Helen to learn the tricks that made her unbeatable.
“Helen ji, she was incomparable. There was no question of rivalry,” Zeenat shared. “We used to watch her and learn how to wear contact lenses, how to wear eyelashes, and how to wear a wig. She was always unbeatable. Before I joined films, I was a huge fan of Helen. The first time I saw her on set, my jaw literally dropped!”
Rapper Badshah gets curious
The fun moment came when rapper Badshah asked Zeenat if there was ever any rivalry between her and Helen, given that both were at the peak of their careers around the same time. Zeenat’s answer was heartfelt: admiration and respect were the only emotions.
Helen didn’t stay quiet either. She returned the compliment, saying she too was stunned when Zeenat stepped into the industry.
“My jaw dropped too, looking at such a beautiful girl coming into the film industry. Mashallah,” Helen said.
A special tribute on Indian Idol 16
The episode, titled ‘Celebrating the Lady Dons’, was a full-blown tribute to these legendary women. Contestants performed some of their iconic songs, paying homage to the stars who shaped Bollywood’s golden era.