Latest news with #Mysore-born
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who is first Indian actor to act in Hollywood? Meet Sabu Dastagir who earned Hollywood Walk of Fame star 65 years ago
It is not every day that we get to celebrate news as big as Deepika Padukone getting a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. Recently, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's selection panel announced the list of 2025 inductees in the prestigious Walk of Fame, and it included the name of the Tamasha actress. But there was yet another Indian, almost 65 years ago, who became the first Indian to achieve this. He was Sabu Dastagir, a Mysore-born boy who went on to become a Hollywood sensation. About Sabu Dastagir Not 2025, but it was in 1960, that the class of the Hollywood Walk of Fame had an Indian name for the first time. Not many must have heard about Sabu Dastagir, but let us tell you that he was a sensation in Hollywood before World War 2. He was born in Mysore in 1924 to an elephant mahout. An American filmmaker, Robert Flaherty, spotted him and chose him for the 1937 film Elephant Boy. This film was based on Rudyard Kipling's book with the same name. In 1938, after Sabu's yet another Hollywood film, The Drum released, he moved there. After his stint as Abu in the 1940 film The Thief of Bagdad, Dastagir became a star. After this, he also starred in films like Mowgli, Arabian Nights, White Savage and Cobra Woman. It wouldn't be wrong to say that he had made a mark for himself in Hollywood at a very young age. He was one of the most popular non-white actors who were a part of major hit films. Sabu Dastagir's Journey In The Army After becoming a household name in Hollywood and becoming an American citizen, the actor joined the US Army in 1944. He even fought World War 2, which marked the end of his acting career. He no longer got acting roles, and in the 50s, Sabu appeared in mostly unsuccessful European films. Did Sabu Dastagir Work in Bollywood? Not many know that he was Mehboob Khan's first choice for Nargis Dutt 's Mother India. Unfortunately, as he did not get the work permit and the role went to Sunil Dutt. This could have been his gateway to Bollywood, but he could never work here, as in 1963, he suffered a heart attack and passed away when he was only 39.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Not Deepika Padukone, Sabu Dastagir was the first Indian actor to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the most prestigious honours a performer can receive — a permanent symbol of success embedded in Hollywood Boulevard, surrounded by legends. So, when it was announced that Indian actor Deepika Padukone would be awarded a star on the Walk of Fame in 2026 in the Motion Pictures category, it felt like a personal win for many and fans quickly dubbed her the first Indian to ever receive the honour. But that's not entirely true. Sabu Dastagir and Deepika Padukone side by side While Deepika's achievement is historic in many ways, she is not the first Indian to be immortalised on Hollywood Boulevard. That honour goes to a forgotten icon of classic cinema: Sabu Dastagir, a Mysore-born actor who made his Hollywood debut in the 1930s and went on to become a sensation. Sabu was inducted into the Walk of Fame in Hollywood's golden age in 1960, a full six decades before Deepika's name would be announced. Born in 1924 to a mahout family (elephant trainers), Sabu's journey to Hollywood was nothing short of cinematic itself. Sabu Dastagir in Mowgli, inspired by The Jungle Book He was allegedly discovered by American filmmaker Robert Flaherty, who cast him in the 1937 British film Elephant Boy, based on author Rudyard Kipling's Toomai of the Elephants. With his natural screen presence, Sabu quickly became a staple of Hollywood's fantasy-adventure genre, starring in films like The Drum (1938), The Thief of Bagdad (1940) and Arabian Nights (1942). Sabu's star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame By the early 1940s, Sabu was one of the most recognisable non-white faces in Western cinema, carving a space for himself long before diversity became a buzzword. He became an American citizen in 1944 and even served in the U.S. Army during World War II. However, post-war, Sabu's career began to stall. Roles dried up. He moved to Europe, starring in lesser-known films. In 1957, he was reportedly in talks to star in Mother India, but was unable to secure a work permit. The role went to Sunil Dutt. He died tragically young in the early 1960s, at the age of 39, from a heart attack, his legacy quietly buried in a Hollywood that had moved on. Now, as Deepika rightfully takes her place among the global greats, it's worth taking a moment to remember the young Indian actor who came before her — wide-eyed and ready to conquer the silver screen with nothing but charm.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Sabu Dastagir, Not Deepika Padukone, Was The First Indian On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Last Updated: Deepika Padukone isn't the first Indian on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Meet Sabu Dastagir, a Mysore-born teen who took Hollywood by storm in the 1940s. The recent announcement by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce about the 2025 Walk of Fame inductees sparked widespread celebration in India as Deepika Padukone's name made it to the coveted list. Best known internationally for her role in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Deepika's inclusion was hailed as a proud moment, with many hurrying to label her the 'first Indian" to receive the honour. But the truth is, that distinction belongs to another name—one that has all but faded from Indian collective memory. The year was 1960. Hollywood was in its golden age, and among that year's Walk of Fame inductees was Sabu Dastagir, an Indian actor whose career in Hollywood predated many modern-day stars by decades. Born in 1924 in Mysore to a mahout (elephant trainer), Sabu's life changed dramatically when American filmmaker Robert Flaherty cast him in the 1937 British adventure film Elephant Boy, inspired by Kipling's Toomai of the Elephants. His natural charisma and screen presence soon landed him roles in a string of fantasy-adventure films, including The Drum (1938) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940), where he starred as the lovable Abu—a performance that turned him into a sensation. Through the 1940s, Sabu carved a niche for himself in Hollywood, starring in hits like Jungle Book (1942), Arabian Nights (1942), and Cobra Woman (1944). At a time when non-white actors were rarely given lead roles, Sabu stood out—his face graced billboards, and he was a household name in the West. In 1944, he became a U.S. citizen and even served in the U.S. Army during World War II. But post-war, his career struggled to maintain the same momentum. The roles became scarce, and his stardom slowly waned. In a bittersweet twist of fate, Sabu was reportedly considered for the lead in Mother India (1957), but visa hurdles stood in the way. He never worked in an Indian film and passed away in 1963 at just 39 years old. While his name may have slipped through the cracks of Indian pop culture, Sabu Dastagir was undeniably the first Indian star in Hollywood—a pathbreaker who earned his place on the Walk of Fame long before India had a global film presence. In the decades that followed, Indian actors like Kabir Bedi, Om Puri, and Amrish Puri made occasional appearances in Western films. Still, it wasn't until the arrival of Aishwarya Rai, Irrfan Khan, and Priyanka Chopra that Indian actors began securing lead roles in Hollywood productions again. Now, as Deepika Padukone prepares to receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it's worth remembering that she's not the first Indian to be celebrated there. That honour belongs to a young boy from Mysore who once ruled the golden age of fantasy cinema in the West—Sabu, India's original global star. First Published: July 03, 2025, 11:55 IST
