From the heart of Mysuru's royal elephant stables to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, the journey of Sabu Dastagir is a remarkable tale of an Indian boy who became a global star long before the advent of the internet. Born Selar Sabu in Karapura, Mysore, in 1924, his early life was steeped in the world of elephants, as his father was a mahout (elephant keeper) for the Maharaja of Mysore. After losing his father at a young age, Sabu also became a mahout, working in the royal stables.
Sabu's destiny took a dramatic turn when he was discovered, at the age of 13, by documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty. Flaherty recognized Sabu's charisma and cast him in "Elephant Boy" (1937), a film based on Rudyard Kipling's story "Toomai of the Elephants". Although Flaherty initially directed the film, Zoltan Korda, the producer's brother, later took over, bringing Sabu and his brother to England to complete the project. "Elephant Boy" became a hit, catapulting Sabu into international stardom.
His natural talent and screen presence led to roles in other notable films, including "The Drum" (1938) and "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), where he played Abu. These roles solidified his image as an exotic and charismatic performer, captivating audiences worldwide. In 1942, Sabu once again played a character based on a Kipling story, Mowgli in "Jungle Book". After his contract expired, Sabu decided to stay in Hollywood to further build his career. He was quickly picked up by Universal Pictures, with his first film for the studio being the big screen adaptation of "Arabian Nights".
In 1944, Sabu became a U.S. citizen and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served as a tail gunner and ball turret gunner on B-24 Liberators, flying several missions in the Pacific during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.
After the war, Sabu's career in Hollywood faced challenges as tastes changed. While he secured roles in films like "Black Narcissus" (1947) and "The End of the River" (1947), he found it difficult to attain the same level of success he had enjoyed earlier. In the last decade of his life, Sabu acted in mostly low budget European films that attempted to capitalize on his exotic image. He eventually returned to his mahout roots and starred in his own elephant act in 1952. During this time, Sabu also began investing in property, eventually building a second, successful career for himself. His final film was the Disney production "A Tiger Walks," which was released after his death.
Sabu Dastagir died of a heart attack on December 2, 1963, in Los Angeles at the young age of 39. Despite his relatively short life, Sabu left an indelible mark on the world of cinema as one of the first Indian actors to achieve international fame. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Sabu has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Though largely forgotten today, Sabu's legacy as a pioneer who broke barriers and captivated audiences worldwide deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
