Actor Deepika Padukone is nominated for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025 in 2025, as declared by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening. Deepika, known for her role in ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’, will soon be her own star on the prestigious Boleward. While this news awakened the enthusiasm and pride in India, some mistaken claimed that it was The first Indian to get this honor. However, the title belongs to a large extent forgotten by 60 years ago – Sabu Dasthagir.

Born in Mysore in 1924, Sabu was the son of an elephant Mahauta. He was discovered by American filmmaker Robert Fleharti and made his debut in a film ‘Elephant Boy’ (1937), a film based on Rudyard Kipling. Sabu went to Hollywood shortly after and quickly became a sensation with lead roles in major films like ‘The Dram’ (1938), ‘The The Thef of Baghdad’ (1940), ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘White Savez’, and ‘Cobra Woman’. As a teenager, he became one of the most recognizable Indian actors in Hollywood, especially popular for his roles in fantasy and adventure films.

In 1944, Sabu became an American citizen and even served in the US Army During World War IIHowever, his stardom faded after the war. In the 1950s, he mostly appeared in low-known European films. He was once considered for the lead in Mehboob Khan’s ‘Mother India’ (1957), but could not secure the work permit. It was during the peak of Hollywood’s Golden Era in 1960, when Sabu Dastagir was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sabu died in 1963 at the age of 39, never acted in an Indian film.

While Deepika’s inclusion in the 2025 Walk of Fame celebrates the growing global appearance of Indian actors, it is worth remembering the original Indian trailblazer – Sabu Dastagir in Hollywood. Over the years, many Indian actors have left their mark in the West, Kabir Bedi and Om Puri to Irfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra and now Deepika Padukone.