Latest news with #SabuDastagir
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
India's first Hollywood star rose from elephant stables, fought WWII, almost played Birju in Mother India; his biopic is finally happening
Sabu Dastagir's life sounds like a movie in itself, and now the OG Indian face in Hollywood is finally getting one. According to Variety, Almighty Motion Pictures has acquired the rights to turn Sabu's life and journey into a biopic. The story is based on Debleena Majumdar's biography Sabu: The Remarkable Story of India's First Actor in Hollywood. It's a story many might not know today, but way before Bollywood made a breakthrough and went global, Sabu was making headlines, not just in India, but all across the West. He was also the first Indian to get a Hollywood Walk of Fame star of his own. Also read: 10 Biggest Emmy snubs of 2025: Squid Game, Selena Gomez, The Handmaid's Tale and more Born in 1924 in Mysore, British India, Sabu was the son of a mahout, an elephant caretaker who used to work for a maharaja. Sabu was very young when he lost both his parents and started working in the elephant stables. One day, American filmmaker Robert Flaherty found him while searching for someone to play the lead in Elephant Boy. The film, based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book story 'Toomai of the Elephants,' marked Sabu's Hollywood debut at just the age of 13. The movie became a hit, and Sabu turned into an overnight global star. American and British media wrote praises for his charming, smart, and absolutely natural acting skills. Flaherty and supervising director Zoltan Korda won the best director award at the Venice Film Festival. British producer Alexander Korda wasted no time in signing Sabu under his banner, and next we know, the young superstar was headlining mega films like The Drum (1938), his first Technicolor role, The Thief of Bagdad (1940), Jungle Book (1942), where he played Mowgli, Arabian Nights (1942), White Savage (1943), and Cobra Woman (1944). Universal Pictures signed Sabu after he moved to Hollywood, and he became one of the few brown faces that mainstream audiences knew. That said, many of his roles were heavy on stereotypes. Sabu was often cast as the sidekick or the 'exotic' hero, with little nuance. Also read: American pop star's desi wedding in India had Diddy performing with classical dancer, Rihanna as maid of honor; it ended in divorce over a text At the peak of his career, Sabu became an American citizen and chose to enlist in the Army Air Forces. He served as a tail gunner in the Pacific and flew 42 combat missions. He was decorated with the Flying Cross and the Air Medal. The on-screen hero turned into a real-life hero and soon became a household name in the US. After the war, Sabu tried returning to acting, but things had already started to change. The 'exotic adventure' genre was fading, and Hollywood wasn't offering him any lead or complex role anymore. Still, he did a few notable films like Tangier (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) , and The End of the River (1947). Interestingly, Sabu was the first choice to lead the Hindi film Mother India as Birju, which could have marked his debut in Indian cinema, but visa issues reportedly blocked it. That role, as we know, went to Sunil Dutt. So, despite being an Indian, Sabu never got to act in an Indian film. Tragically, Sabu died of a heart attack in 1963 at just 39. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood. Some of his last films were Mistress of the World (1960), Rampage (1963), and A Tiger Walks (1964) – released posthumously. Producer behind the upcoming project, Prabhleen Sandhu, called it a legacy that 'the world must never forget.' She added, 'He wasn't just India's first global star—he was a bridge between worlds, cultures, and eras. To bring his story to the screen is more than filmmaking – it's preserving a legacy the world must never forget and is a responsibility we hold close to our hearts.'
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Biopic on India's first Hollywood star Sabu Dastagir in the works
Sabu Dastagir Sabu Dastagir, widely regarded as India's first actor to find success in Hollywood, will soon have his life story adapted for the screen. Producer Prabhleen Sandhu of Almighty Motion Picture has acquired the rights to Sabu: The Remarkable Story of India's First Actor in Hollywood, a biography by Debleena Majumdar. The upcoming adaptation will be developed either as a feature film or a web series. Prabhleen shares, 'Sabu's story deserves to be told with honesty and scale. He wasn't just India's first global star; he was a bridge between cultures, generations, and continents. Bringing his journey to the screen isn't just about making a film — it's about preserving a legacy that must not be forgotten, and that's a responsibility we take seriously. ' Debleena adds, 'Thanks a lot to my literary agent Mr Suhail Mathur for believing in me and for not only getting me a book deal and an AV one but for also sharing the amazing idea and Almighty Motion Picture for finding value in the story and for shaping it with this brilliant vision. It was an honour to research on this book and more importantly to learn about how cinema and movies evolved through world changing global events. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo ' Born in Mysore to a mahout, Sabu rose from modest beginnings in colonial India to become an international star. He made his debut in Elephant Boy (1937), based on Rudyard Kipling's Toomai of the Elephants, and featured in Hollywood classics like The Thief of Bagdad, Jungle Book (1942), Arabian Nights (1942), and Black Narcissus (1947). In 1960, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Alongside his film career, Sabu, who became an American citizen, served in the United States Air Force during World War II, earning recognition as an air gunner.
UAE Moments
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Deepika Padukone Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Deepika Padukone has been named as one of the Class of 2026 honorees on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—earning her a prestigious star in the Motion Pictures category. This recognition cements her status as the first Indian actress to be celebrated with this iconic accolade, and only the second Indian overall, following actor Sabu Dastagir, who received his star in 1960. The announcement, made during a live presentation at Ovation Hollywood, placed Deepika alongside distinguished global figures including Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, Rachel McAdams, and Rami Malek in the Motion Pictures lineup. The Selection Journey The Walk of Fame committee reviewed hundreds of nominations before finalizing the 35 inductees at its June meeting. To qualify, nominees must fulfill stringent criteria—such as five years of career work, ongoing philanthropic contributions, and a commitment to attend the unveil ceremony. International Acclaim & Cultural Impact Deepika's acclaimed career spans both Bollywood and Hollywood, from her blockbuster debut in Om Shanti Om (2007) to her Hollywood appearance in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017). Beyond film, she's featured on TIME's 100 Most Influential People list (2018) and recognized by Variety's International Women's Impact Report. Her advocacy in mental health via The Live Love Laugh Foundation also underscores her global influence. Fans and the global entertainment community are eagerly awaiting the moment Bollywood's brightest light takes her well-deserved place among Hollywood elite.
Pink Villa
03-07-2025
- 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.
India.com
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Not Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan, this Indian-origin teen actor was first on Hollywood Walk Of Fame, he was...
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been recognized as one of the 2025 inductees to the esteemed Hollywood Walk of Fame, as revealed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening. Deepika, who gained international fame for her performance in Vin Diesel's 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage', will soon have her own star on the famous boulevard. While this news generated excitement and pride in India, some incorrectly claimed she is the first Indian to receive this honor. However, that distinction actually belongs to a largely forgotten Indian-origin teen star from over 60 years ago. Actor Sabu Dastagir Here, we are talking about the renowned Hollywood actor Sabu Dastagir, who was born in 1924 in Mysore, the son of an elephant mahout. He was discovered by American filmmaker Robert Flaherty and made his film debut in 'Elephant Boy' (1937), a movie inspired by Rudyard Kipling's writings. Sabu moved to Hollywood shortly after and quickly became a sensation with leading roles in major films such as 'The Drum', 'The Thief of Bagdad', 'Arabian Nights', 'White Savage', and 'Cobra Woman'. As a teenager, he became one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood, particularly known for his roles in fantasy and adventure films. Sabu Dastagir's Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame In 1944, Sabu became a citizen of the United States and even served in the US Army during World War II. However, his fame diminished after the war. In the 1950s, he mostly appeared in lesser-known European films. On October 19, 1948, Sabu tied the knot with lesser-known actress Marilyn Cooper, who had an uncredited role as Princess Tara in the 1949 film Song of India. Together, they had two children. Their marriage continued until his passing. Their son, Paul Sabu, formed the rock band Sabu in the 1980s. Their daughter, Jasmine Sabu, who passed away in 2001, worked as an animal trainer in the film industry. Sabu Dastagir Was Offered Lead Role In… He was once considered for the lead role in legendary director Mehboob Khan's 'Mother India' (1957), but was unable to obtain a work permit. It was in 1960, during the height of Hollywood's golden era, that Sabu Dastagir received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sabu passed away young in 1963 at the age of 39, having never acted in an Indian film.
