The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s selection panel announced the names of celebrities who will be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025 — and among them is Indian actress Deepika Padukone, known internationally for her role in The Return of Xander Cage.
While many in India celebrated her achievement, some mistakenly claimed she was the first Indian personality to receive this prestigious honor. However, the truth is that Deepika is not the first — this recognition was awarded to another Indian many years ago.
In fact, the first and only Indian name included in the Walk of Fame prior to 2025 was Sabu Dastagir, a name unfamiliar to many in India today but once a Hollywood sensation before World War II.
Born in 1924 in Mysore, Sabu was the son of an elephant handler. He was discovered by American filmmaker Robert Flaherty, who cast him in the 1937 film Elephant Boy, based on Rudyard Kipling’s story. In 1938, Sabu moved to Hollywood for the film The Drum, and by 1940, he became a major star with his role as Abu in the fantasy-adventure classic The Thief of Bagdad.
Sabu went on to star in several successful films like The Jungle Book (1942), Arabian Nights, White Savage, and Cobra Woman. As a teenager, he became one of the most prominent non-white actors in big-budget Hollywood fantasy and action films.
After becoming a U.S. citizen in 1944, Sabu served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Unfortunately, his acting career slowed down afterward. In the 1950s, he appeared mostly in unsuccessful European films. In 1957, he was considered for the lead role in Mother India, but due to visa issues, the role went to Sunil Dutt.
Sabu never acted in an Indian film and tragically died of a heart attack in 1963 at the age of just 39.
His Hollywood success paved the way for Indian actors in the West, long before the likes of Kabir Bedi, Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, and Irrfan Khan made their marks in international cinema.
So while Deepika Padukone’s inclusion in the Walk of Fame is a proud moment, it is Sabu Dastagir who holds the distinction of being the first Indian actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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