The Underworld Intervenes: How Don Karim Lala Helped Helen Reclaim Her Home

A new book by former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria, “When It All Began: The Untold Stories of the Underworld,” reveals a little-known incident where legendary actress and dancer Helen sought help from Mumbai underworld don Karim Lala to reclaim her house after being evicted by her ex-husband, filmmaker PN Arora.

The Crisis of the Iconic Dancer

• Background: Helen (born in Rangoon in 1938) escaped wartime Burma to arrive in Bombay. She rose to become one of the most prolific performers of the 1950s and beyond, starring in over 700 films.
• The Relationship: Helen had entered into a relationship with the much older filmmaker PN Arora, handing over control of her finances and properties to him.
• The Eviction: As Arora’s career struggled, he began ill-treating Helen. Eventually, the relationship soured, and he refused to return her rightfully owned property, culminating in him throwing her out of her own house.

The Don’s Intervention

Desperate, Helen sought help from industry friends, veteran actor Dilip Kumar and writer-actor Salim Khan.

1. Dilip Kumar’s Role: Unable to reach Karim Lala directly, Dilip Kumar wrote a note addressed to the don and instructed Helen to deliver it herself.
2. Karim Lala’s Code: Lala, an Afghan-born crime boss who headed the notorious ‘Pathan Gang,’ was known for his strict personal code, particularly his respect for women.
3. The Meeting: After learning who the famous woman was and reading Dilip Kumar’s note, Karim Lala listened to Helen’s plight. He promised her she would get her house back and asked her to return in a couple of hours.
4. The Resolution: When Helen returned, she found that Arora had vanished, leaving all her goods behind and the keys with the guard.

The book documents that “Karim Lala’s baton had worked,” highlighting the don’s unexpected role as an arbiter in personal disputes, alongside his notorious rackets like liquor, gambling, and extortion.

Karim Lala died in 2002. Rakesh Maria’s book, published by Penguin Random House India, is set for an official launch on Friday.