Dara Singh (19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012) was an Indian wrestler-turned-actor from Indian Punjab. He started acting in 1952 and was the first sportsman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He has also worked as Hindi and Punjabi film producer, director and writer in his career. He has also been an Indian television actor.
Early life
Dara Singh was born on 19 November[citation needed] in 1928 in the village of Dharmuchak, which was then a part of British Punjab and as of 2012 is in Amritsar district. His birthname was Deedar Singh Randhawa and his parents — Surat Singh and Balwant Kaur — were Jat Sikhs.
Career
Wrestling
As an adult he was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, weighed 132 kilograms (290 lb) and had a chest measurement of 54 inches (140 cm). Due to his physique, he was encouraged to take up Pehlwani, an Indian style of wrestling. He wrestled by invitation of the kings of Indian princely states and wrestled frequently in haats and melas (fairs and carnivals).
Singh left his village for Singapore in 1948.
All India Jat Mahasabha Centenary Celebrations 2007, Seen in the image are Dharmendra, Dara Singh (sitting in center bearing turban) and Kamal Patel
His last tournament, where he announced his retirement, was held in Delhi in 1983, inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi and the winning trophy was presented by Giani Zail Singh. In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Films and television
He started his career as an actor in 1952 with Sangdil. He was confined to B-grade roles for many years and played his first lead role in Babubhai Mistry's film King Kong (1962). From around 1963 he partnered often with Mumtaz. With her he performed in 16 Hindi films and the couple became the highest-paid B-grade actors, with Singh receiving nearly four lakh rupees per film. He then went on to do television in the late 1980s, where he played the role of Hanuman in the television adaptation of the Hindu epic Ramayan. He was liked more in the role of 'Bheem Sen' in films like Veer Bheem Sen and Ramayan and in role of 'Hanuman' both in films and TV serial. He worked with Prathviraj Kapoor in Sikander-e-Aazam, Khakaan, Lootera, Daku Mangalsingh and Insaaf. He also played the Alexander in Sikander-e-Aazam. He worked in some television serial shows, including Had Kar Di which was aired on Zee TV and Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa for StarOne. His last Hindi movie was Jab We Met and last Punjabi movie released before his illness was Dil Apna Punjabi. He acted in National Award winning film Main Maa Punjab Dee directed by Balwant Singh Dullat. He directed seven Punjabi films of which Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun, Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar, Dhyanu Bhagat, Rab Dian Rakhan were commercial hits,[citation needed] and directed two films in Hindi, Bhakti Mein Shakti and Rustom (1982). His directorial venture Bhakti Mein Shakti, a mythological film, completed a record run at Delhi's Imperial Cinema in 1978. He produced 8 films and wrote the story for 7 films. These films were produced and directed under the banner "Dara Film" which he setup in 1970.
Dara Studio
Singh was also the owner of Dara Studio at Mohali, District Mohali, Punjab. Dara Film Studio was founded in 1978. The Studio is operational from 1980 as film studio.
Politics
Singh became the first sportsman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha - the upper house of the Parliament of India. He served in that role between 2003 and 2009. He was also president of the Jat Mahasabha.
Death
He was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 7 July 2012 following a cardiac arrest. He was released from hospital on 11 July in deference to the wishes of his family. He died on 12 July 2012 at his home in Mumbai. He was cremated at Juhu crematorium.
Personal life
Dara Singh married twice. He had a son, Parduman Singh Randhawa, from his first marriage and from his second marriage he had five children: two sons and three daughters including Vindu Dara Singh, who is a film and television actor.
Awards and accomplishments
Other awards and accomplishments of Dara Singh are:
National Wrestling Alliance: Canadian Open Tag Team Champion, with Yukon Eric
Rustam-e-Hind, 1954[4]
Rustam-e-Punjab, 1966
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Class of 1996
Filmography
As actor
1952 Sangdil
1954 Pehli Jhalak Wrestler Dara Singh
1959 Jagga Daku Jagga Daku
1962 King Kong Jingu / King Kong
1963 Faulad Amar
1963 Rustom-E-Baghdad Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad
1963 Awara Abdulla Abdulla
1964 Samson Samson
1964 Aandhi Aur Toofan
1964 Darasingh: Ironman Dara Singh
1965 Rustom-E-Hind
1965 Boxer
1965 Sher Dil
1965 Raaka
1965 Sikandar-E-Azam Alexander
1965 Lootera
1966 Naujawan
1966 Veer Bajrang
1966 Dada
1966 Daku Mangal Singh Daku Mangal Singh/ Kumar
1966 Jawan Mard
1967 Do Dushman
1967 Watan Se Door
1968 Thief of Baghdad
1968 Jung Aur Aman
1968 Balram Shri Krishna Balram
1969 Toofan Badal
1970 Choron Ka Chor Ashok
1970 Ilzaam Raju/Kishan
1970 Mera Naam Joker Sher Singh
1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar Kartar Singh
1971 Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon
1971 Ramu Ustad Ramu
1971 Tulsi Vivah Bhagwan Shiv
1971 Anand Pahalwan
1972 Aankhon Aankhon Mein Pahelwan
1972 Hari Darshan Bhagwan Shiv
1972 Lalkaar
1972 Mele Mitran De
1972 Sultana Daku
1975 Warrant Pyaara Singh
1973 Hum Sab Chor Hain
1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam
1974 Kuwara Baap
1974 Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Dhanna Jatt
1974 Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam Daku Daulay Khan
1974 Har Har Mahadev Bhagwan Shiv
1974 Kisan Aur Bhagwan Dhanna
1974 Zehreela Insaan
1975 Dharam Karam Ustaad ji
1975 Dharmatma Pahelwan
1976 Bajrangbali Hanuman
1976 Lambhardarni Lambardar/Dharma
1976 Raakhi Aur Rifle Ganga Singh
1976 Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun Kartar Singh
1976 Apna Khoon Apna Dushman
1977 Jai Bolo Chakradhari
1977 Ram Bharose Sardar Vikram Singh
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti Dyanu Bhakt
1978 Dhyanu Bhagat Dhyanu Bhagat
1978 Nalayak Pahelwan
1978 Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath Nihalchand
1978 Giddha Bhalwaan Dulla ji
1979 Chambal Ki Raani
1981 Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan
1981 Khel Muqaddar Ka
1982 Main Intequam Loonga Ajay Kumar
1982 Rustom Rustom Mangal Singh
1983 Babul Da Vehra
1983 Unkhili Muttiar Mechanic
1984 Aan Aur Shaan
1985 Mutharamkunnu P.O. Himself
1985 Mard Raja Azaad Singh
1986 Karma Dharma
1986 Bulekha
1986 Krishna-Krishna Bhagwan Shri Balram
1986 Ramayan Hanuman
1986 Sajna Sath Nibhana Joseph
1986 Maaveeran
1988 Maula Jatt Maula Jatt & Dharma
1988 Paanch Fauladi Ustadji (Fauladi #1)
1988 Mahaveera Delar Singh
1988 Mahabharat Hanuman
1989 Shehzaade Jailor
1989 Elaan-E-Jung Bheema
1989 Gharana Vijay Singh Pahelwan
1990 Tera Mera Pyar Preet's dad
1990 Naaka Bandi Dharam Singh
1990 Pratigya Daku Delavar Singh
1990 Sheran De Putt Sher Subedaar
1991 Dharam Sankat Dara (the dacoit)
1991 Ajooba Maharaja Karan Singh
1991 Maut Ki Sazaa Pyara Singh
1992 Prem Deewane Loha Singh
1993 Bechain
1993 Anmol Dara Shamsher, Zafar's father
1994 Karan
1995 Ram Shastra Police Commissioner
1997 Lav Kush Hanuman
1997 Main Maa Punjab Dee
1998 Guru Gobind Singh
1998 Auto Driver
1998 Qahar Guest appearance
1999 Dillagi
1999 Zulmi Baba Thakur
2000 Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Sapna's grandfather
2001 Farz Tayaji
2002 Shararat Mr. Gujral
2003 Kal Ho Naa Ho Chaddha uncle
2003 Border Hindustan Ka Jamail Singh
2004 Family Business
2006 Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa Amardeep Sehgal (Dadaji)
2006 Dil Apna Punjabi Hardam Singh
2007 Jab We Met Geet's grandfather
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