Some moments in life don’t feel real, even when they’re happening to you. This was one of them. In 2023, I received a birthday message from Kevin Sorbo — the actor who played Hercules in the legendary TV series I grew up watching.
For most children, superheroes live on TV. For me, this was my childhood superhero speaking directly to my heart. And it happened because of a dear friend — who secretly arranged the entire surprise.
I still remember the moment I pressed play. I cried. Not out of shock… but because Kevin said things to me that touched me deeply.
I grew up as a dyslexic boy who struggled to understand the world in the way others did. I felt slow. Lost. Misunderstood. And in those lonely years, the Hercules TV series was one place where I felt strength, courage, and hope.
So when Kevin looked into the camera and said:
“Hey Neil… your favorite Hercules here…”
it didn’t feel like a celebrity greeting a fan. It felt like a voice reaching back to the child I once was — telling him that he was seen… that he mattered… and that his journey had meaning.
Kevin spoke about:
• my father’s passing,
• his own father,
• the pain of loss,
• the memories that stay with us forever,
• and the courage to keep going after life breaks you.
When he said:
“I can relate to your pain… trust me.”
I understood.
Two sons who have grieved the loss of their fathers… connecting through a screen… across continents. He spoke about destiny, films, creativity, faith, and following dreams. He reminded me that even he had walked a difficult path. Hearing him call my animation and storytelling a gift, and saying he hoped we would work together one day… was something I could never have imagined.
This was more than a birthday message.
It was so much more.
Kevin shared stories from his life:
• living in New Zealand for 7 years filming Hercules
• the show becoming the most watched TV series in the world
• his spiritual journey and faith
• directing films
• surviving Hollywood’s chaos
• and choosing to live truthfully
And then he said: “I’m glad I was a positive influence in your life.” Growing up dyslexic, misunderstood, struggling in silence — that influence meant everything.
Why I Am Sharing This Today This website is not just about my screenplay Hercules and Me — it is about the path that
shaped me. This message from Kevin is part of that path. It represents:
• the boy I was,
• the man I am becoming,
• and the journey still ahead.
It is a reminder that heroes are real, and sometimes, they speak directly to you when you least expect it.
I am forever grateful to the friend who gifted me this moment. Sandy didn’t just arrange a birthday message — she gave me a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
If the dyslexic boy inside me could have seen this moment years ago… he would have known:
You are not weak.
You are not slow.
You are not broken.
You are becoming something.
Thank you, Kevin.
Thank you, Sandy.
Thank you, God.
— Subhranil Dhar