When you think of Indian actors in Hollywood, I'm certain that several names will come to
mind. But Sabu isn't one of them. Why did India's first international star's name fade
away from the world's collective memory? Let's take a stroll down the past's cobbled roads and
discover the intriguing and scandalous life of Sabu, Hollywood's forgotten superstar.
When Jungle Book star Sabu died at just 39, his fans were stunned, but as dark details came
out, their shock turned to heartbreak. Stay tuned for more on that later. Sabu may be the
name that gained fame, but it wasn't what Sabu's parents named him when he was born. His
real name was actually Sear Sabu, while Destiger was his older brother's name. Sadly,
the reason for Asabu's name change stems from a horrific family tragedy. Buckle up and away
we go. Sabu's mother passed when he was only a young boy, leaving his father to provide for
the family. He landed a cushy job as the Maharajah's personal elephant handler, allowing
his sons to live with him in the royal stables . Born in 1924, Sabu developed a natural
affinity to the elephants and spent his days helping his father handle them. Little did he
know what life had in store for him. Things took a tragic turn for Sabu when he was just 9
years old. His father passed, leaving him and his older brother all alone. His mother had
passed earlier. The Maharajah allowed the boys to continue. Living at the stables as long as
they took care of his elephants, they spent the next 3 years doing just that when fate
intervened in the most unexpected way. Perhaps at that point, if someone told Sabu he'd be an
international movie star one day, he wouldn't have believed it. He probably envisioned
staying at Mahout for the rest of his life, but the universe had other plans. A British
film crew was scouting for locations when they discovered Sabu tending to the Maharajah's
elephants. It was destiny. Can you guess the name of the film the crew was searching a
location for? That's right, Elephant Boy. You can't make this stuff up. There's some
confusion as to whether the cameraman spotted Sabu or the scriptwriter, but in the end it
doesn't really matter. He entranced the crew with his natural charm and impish grin. Of
course, the fact that he was so comfortable with elephants clinched his place in the film,
and as we'll see, film history too. From living a life of poverty in the Maharaja
stables, Sabu was suddenly part of a huge Hollywood film. The director, Alexander Korda,
was a master filmmaker. Sabu, on the other hand, had never seen a film, let alone acted in
one. Now instead of handling elephants, he was learning lines, performing in front of the
camera, and flying out to England to complete filming. That's when Sabu received a shock. The
initial screenplay didn't have much of Sabu's character, though you'd think the movie would
revolve around him by virtue of its title. However, when the filmmakers saw Sabu
performing on screen, they knew he was special . They rewrote his part, added much more
material for the young boy, and just like that , Sabu's star was on the rise. Elephant Boy was
shot both on location in India and in a film studio over in England. The result was a superb
film, which was both a critical and commercial hit. It even won honors at the Venice Film
Festival, with everyone praising one aspect in particular, the actor that played the young
hero, Sabu. Our boy had come a long way from the jungles of Mysore, but the good times
wouldn't last forever. The glitz and glamour of his London life might have dazzled him in
the beginning, but Sabu missed India and his life there. He even wrote to the stable keeper
in Mysore asking him how his favorite elephant was doing. It's easy to forget just how young
Sabu was when his life turned upside down. When he came to England, he was only around 12
years old. Korda saw Sabu's potential and cast him in his next film, The
Drum. This role was a step up for Sabu. As he went from playing an impoverished elephant
driver to a young prince, the story was set in British-ruled India, where a young prince
unites with the British to fight his evil uncle. Kind of like Lion King. Think Simba and
Scar, only with the British as Simba supporters. The Drum 2 was shot both in India
and England, and it was a technical masterpiece, even though it had a lot more
actors in brownface than Elephant Boy. It did really well in Britain, no surprises there, and
proved that Sabu could really act. His natural confidence and charisma carried him through. He
started to receive mountains of fan mail, but people in India were not as happy. The drum
came out in 1938, at the peak of the Indian independence movement. And guess what? Its plot,
and specifically Sabu's role, stoked intense controversy in the actor's homeland. Sabu's
portrayal of an Indian prince, so enamored by the British went directly against the freedom
fighters' efforts and philosophy. The film inspired riots in many big city theaters.
Sabu's films did well enough to turn him into a hot commodity. He became the face of many
advertisements, and people enjoyed seeing him riding an elephant at zoos or as part of
cultural events, but there was a darker reason why the public liked him so much. Supposedly
they were happy to see how their country had helped civilize Sabu. Child stars and managers,
they just don't get along, and Sabu's experiences were no different, though Sabu
became very close with his director Korda and the cameraman who took him in. His managers
were a different story. They actively played on his exoticism and encouraged him to dress up
in formal Indian clothes at occasions, complete with a turban and even a whip. Oof.
When it came to Sabu's next pitcher, Korda wanted to create something unique. The result
was the spectacular, The Thief of Baghdad. Sabu played the titular role of the thief, Abu.
The film was unusual because of all its special effects, the first of their kind. There
were flying carpets, genies, and magic crossbows. And if you're thinking that sounds
familiar, you aren't wrong. The movie is the basis for Aladdin. The Thief of Baghdad went on
to win 3 Academy Awards, which was a huge deal at the time. Critics called it dashing,
dazzling, and altogether magical. Roger Ebert put it on his great movies list. And he
especially praised Sabu's acting as perfectly pitched for the needs of the screenplay. Sadly,
although he wasn't aware of it at the time, this would prove to be his last huge hit.
Hollywood really rolled out the carpet for young Sabu. The it boy met First Lady Eleanor
Roosevelt shortly after arriving. Even better for Sabu, at least he met his favorite actress,
Carol Lombard. It was clear Sabu had a mega crush on the glamorous blonde, and the two
evidently became friendly. They'd ride Lombard's scooter together, but might there
have been more than just friendship at work? According to Hollywood rumors,
Sabu didn't just have a schoolboy crush on Lombard. The teenager was truly, madly, deeply
in love with the screen siren. When asked about his infatuation, Sabu insisted they were
just pals before saying that she was his very favorite actress. If something was going on, it
would have been very scandalous, if not criminal. Lombard was 30 at the time. Sabu was
just 13. However, he didn't have to say goodbye too soon. Korda's next project revolved
around Sabu and was so high profile that it would turn Sabu into a star overnight. The film
was the first adaptation of The Jungle Book, and filming would take place not in India, but
in Hollywood. However, there was a dark side to this decision. Naturally, The Jungle Book
had to be set in the jungle, no surprise there . However, instead of going to India, To film in
the jungles there, the team decided to make do with forests available in California. All the
natives who acted with Sabu were also white actors who'd never been to India. And though
there were many real animals in the movie like tigers, elephants, and a bear, it also featured
two huge rubber snakes. The Jungle Book did well commercially. It collected good money from
rentals and re-releases, but it didn't win any awards, though it had 4 Academy Award
nominations. Sabu was happy with the result, and he'd made up his mind. He signed a contract
with Universal and began his life in Hollywood . Sadly, as we'll see, Sabu's experiences
would run the gamut from glitz and glam to all out despair. Sabu's first film in Hollywood was
Arabian Nights. It was a commercial hit and even earned 4 Academy Award nominations, but
for critics, it was a dud. Some reviewers felt unhappy with Sabu's small supporting role.
David Lardner of The New Yorker complained that the industry was wasting his potential by
giving him weak roles since Elephant Boy. His next two films were nothing to talk about. Both
White Savage and Cobra Woman had the same exotic theme. And Sabu had similar roles of the
hero psychic and comic relief in both. Perhaps he felt the monotony himself, so he decided to
take a short break from films, but he had no plans to relax. In fact, his next act was the
definition of danger. Sabu knew there was no easy way to become an American
citizen, so he chose the quickest and most direct way he could find. He enlisted. World
War II hadn't ended, and America needed all hands on deck. So Sabu, who had always been
interested in flying, began training as a heavy bomber gunner. He flew 42. missions and
was as good an officer as actor. However, there's a heartbreaking side to this story too.
Shortly before he enlisted, a journalist once asked Sabu who he thought would win World War
II. Apparently the boy's face immediately darkened, and he assumed the aspect of a much
older man. He gravely said, No one. And so while Sabu enlisted to gain citizenship
and by all accounts was a highly skilled and decorated soldier, it's safe to say he had
reservations about his role in the combat. Sabu tried to make a comeback in films only to
discover a heartbreaking reality. The audience just wasn't into the same kind of films he'd
been a part of, and filmmakers didn't give him the option to shake off his stereotype.
Hollywood didn't seem to have space for him. His next few films were considered mediocre.
And then one project stood out for a surprising reason. Sometimes the best things
happen when you least expect them. Sabu was filming Song of India in 1948, opposite Gayle
Russell, when she got sick. The up and coming actress, Marilyn Cooper came to fill in for
Russell for a few days. It was love at first sight for Sabu. He fell head over heels for
Cooper. After a whirlwind romance. 24 year old Sabu and his lady love Marilyn Cooper tied the
knot. In fact, they were so head over heels for each other that they got married within the
same year of their first meeting. With such a compelling behind the scenes love story. You'd
think that Song of India, the movie that Sabu and Cooper co-starred in, would have been a
smash hit. Well, unfortunately, you'd be wrong . The movie was a total flop and sadly, just as
Sabu's personal life triumphed, his professional life hit rocky waters. While his
Hollywood films in the late 40s were nothing to write home about. Sabu did manage to salvage
something out of the period by traveling to Europe and working in some relatively better
films there. Critics appreciated both The End of the River and Black Narcissists and praised
Sabu for turning in solid performances. Sabu was happy with Cooper. However, soon after
their wedding, controversy reared its ugly head to make trouble in his otherwise peaceful
home life. It appeared as if Sabu had a secret in his past. A dancer, Brenda Marion
Glier, who worked with Sabu on Black Narcissists, filed a paternity suit against him.
She claimed he was the father of her daughter Makaya, and her case held water. The girl was
born in 1948, just a year after the film wrapped up. Awkwardly, this was also the same
year that Sabu married Cooper. Do I sense a courtroom drama brewing? While the jury ruled
in Sabu's favor initially, an appeals court ordered a new trial. Evidently, Juliar was
standing her ground and digging in her heels. The new trial lasted an entire year before Sabu
decided to change tactics. In the end, the actor agreed to an out of court settlement, and
the details of that settlement, well, let's just say they're very telling. While Sabu
didn't explicitly admit that he was Cooper's baby daddy. The actor did agree to some pretty
suggestive terms. He pledged to pay for Juliar's costs and to provide child support
until Maka turned 21. Since Juliar had recently tied the knot herself and her husband
wanted to adopt a child, she was happy with this outcome. So was Sabu the dad. Your guess
is as good as mine. Sabu may not have admitted to being Makaya's dad,
but he soon welcomed two children with his wife. Jasmine Sabu grew up to work in films too,
but as a screenwriter and animal trainer. Tragically, she passed at the age of 44 in 2001.
Paul Sabu was born 3 years after Jasmine and is an Emmy-winning singer-songwriter. Sabu had
certainly achieved the American dream. He was one of the richest stars in Hollywood in the
late 40s and 50s. He was the first Indian to get a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and he
was friends with President Reagan. Sure, his film career was dwindling, but he was trying to
revive it, and who knows? It just might have picked up if fate didn't deal another cruel
blow at him. Remember Sabu's older brother who came with him from India? The two boys had
always been very close, with Sabu depending on his older sibling to manage his career. The two
also managed a furniture store together. Unfortunately, disaster struck when a young boy
broke into the shop, planning to pilfer some money that he'd seen Sabu's brother bring in.
Little did the boy know this decision would change everything. Sabu's brother resisted the
attack, leading the young boy to panic and shoot him. Tragically, Sabu's brother passed on
the spot. The horrific and violent loss left Sabu completely devastated, and
unfortunately, fate wasn't through with the star just yet. Soon enough, Sabu
encountered even more drama in his personal life. His house caught fire, but that was just
the beginning of another nightmare. The authorities quickly caught the arsonist, and
the man soon admitted that he'd indeed set the house on fire. However, when it came to why he
lit the flame, the man's answer had everyone's jaw on the floor. Shockingly, the
arsonist claimed that he had burned down Sabu's home as part of a conspiracy. The man
claimed that Sabu's friend asked him to light the fire, and that wasn't all. He also claimed
that the friend didn't want to harm Sabu. No, the opposite. The friend saw that Sabu needed
the insurance money and decided to help his buddy out, and the scandal wasn't over yet. At
first it looked like the plan went well. The insurance company paid Sabu's claim, giving him
a much needed windfall. However, after the revelations about the real cause of the fire
came out, all Sabu's cash disappeared. The insurance company realized that they'd been the
victim of a fraudulent scheme, and they sued the legendary Indian actor with all their might.
Had it ever crossed Sabu's mind to try his luck in India? Perhaps it hadn't until the day
he woke up to a surprise offer from an Indian director. Mehboob Khan was making Mother India,
which would go on to become a huge hit, and wanted Sabu for the role of Berjo, a young boy
in the film. Unfortunately, Sabu would have to turn it down for a heartbreaking reason. India
denied Sabu a work permit. Since he couldn't go there, he had to turn down Berjo's role,
which went to another actor. The entire experience must have made Sabu feel bitter. His
replacement became hugely successful because of the film, and to make things even worse.
Mother India also became India's first Academy Award nominated film. Although he didn't get a
work permit for Mother India, Sabu eventually did go back to India and even worked in a film
with Indian actress Shashikala. Unfortunately, that film never saw the light of day, so no one
knows whether Sabu would ever have made it in his native country, speaking a language he'd
given up on a long time ago. In the later years of his life, Sabu's career floundered. In
a particularly tough time, he moved to Europe and worked with a circus. Perhaps it was
because he always played a wide-eyed, naive native looking up to white men. Indians were
unhappy with the way he depicted their country , although it wasn't his fault those were the
only roles offered to him. The press wrote unflattering things about him and tabloids
published news about him romancing his on-screen co-stars offscreen. All in all, Sabu
realized that going back to India wasn't going to be a very pleasant experience for him, at
least at this point. Sabu passed suddenly in 1963 at the age of just
39. The actor had passed of a heart attack. Ironically, he'd gone for a checkup just two
days before his passing, and the doctor had told him that if all his patients were as
healthy as Sabu, he'd be out of a job. His final resting place is Forest Lawn in the
Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Whether you blame Sabu for playing to the stereotype or celebrate
him for rising from an elephant handler to a sought after actor, you can't ignore his
contribution to the English-American film industry at a time when hardly any people of
color were a part of it. He worked with what he had, and he did the best job he could.
Director Michael Powell remembers him as kind, direct, strong, and intelligent. Sabu's last
two films were Rampage, co-starring the noir icon Robert Mitchum, and a Disney film titled A
Tiger Walks. Both movies came out after his passing. Sabu was one of the celebrities who
loved visiting Ralph Helfer's Africa USA Exotic Animal Ranch in Soledad Canyon. He went
there regularly on weekends to play with the animals and to help around with them and do
their chores. He may have become a big star, but animals were definitely his first love. The
United States celebrated Sabu's achievements with a touching gesture. They proudly displayed
his famous face on a postage stamp. In turn, Sabu responded by helping the war cause. He
traveled through the country selling bonds, oftentimes with a baby elephant in tow. I guess
being the elephant boy trumps being a decorated officer. Sabu's life was a remarkable
journey from a young Indian boy to a celebrated Hollywood star. His exotic charm and
natural talent captivated audiences worldwide, making him a household name in the golden age
of cinema. Sabu's story is a testament to the enduring magic of cinema and the enduring
spirit of adventure. If you've enjoyed these stories, don't forget to show some love by
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with more incredible narratives soon. Thanks for joining us today and until next time.