Dara Singh
Dara Singh was an Indian professional wrestler, actor, and politician. Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest wrestlers, Singh earned international recognition during the 1950s and 1960s for his victories in both Indian and world wrestling circuits. In 1968, Singh became world champion by defeating Lou Thesz.
Transitioning to cinema, Singh appeared in over 100 Hindi and Punjabi films, often portraying strong, heroic and religious characters, and is best remembered for his iconic role as Hanuman in the film Bajrangbali and in the television series Ramayan. He was the first sportsperson to be nominated as Member of the Rajya Sabha from 2003 to 2009, he was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1996. Singh was inducted into the Legacy wing of the WWE [Hall of Fame (2018)|WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018].
Early life
Singh was born in a Punjabi Jat Sikh family as Deedar Singh Randhawa to Surat Singh Randhawa and Balwant Kaur on 19 November 1928 in the village of Dharmuchak in the Majha area of the Punjab region of India. At the time, it was still under British Raj colonial rule.Career
Professional wrestling
He came to Singapore in 1947, where he worked in a drum-manufacturing mill and began his wrestling training under Harnam Singh in the Great World Stadium. As an adult he was tall, weighed and had a chest measurement of. Due to his physique, he was encouraged to take up pehlwani, a traditional Indian style of wrestling, in which he trained for several years. After switching to professional wrestling, he competed around the world with opponents such as Bill Verna, Firpo Zbyszko, John Da Silva, Rikidōzan, Danny Lynch and Ski Hi Lee. His flooring of King Kong is still remembered. He is credited to have remained undefeated in a professional wrestling bout.In 1951, Dara Singh lost a traditional city-duel match in Greco-Roman style against Brahmdev Mishra of Gorakhpur in a stadium located at Dharmatala Maidan Calcutta.
In 1954, Dara competed in the Rustam-e-Hind tournament where he won the final by defeating Tiger Joginder Singh and received a silver cup from Maharaja Hari Singh. In 1959, he won the Commonwealth Championship by defeating George Gordienko at Calcutta. On 29 May 1968 in Bombay, his victory over Lou Thesz earned him the World championship. According to Thesz, Singh was "an authentic wrestler, was superbly conditioned" and had no problem losing to the latter. His last tournament, where he announced his retirement, was held in Delhi in June 1983.
Films and television
Singh left his village for Singapore in 1948. He started his career as an actor in 1952 with Sangdil. He was a stunt film actor for many years and played his first lead role in Babubhai Mistry's film King Kong. From around 1963, he partnered often with Mumtaz, with whom he performed in 16 Hindi films. 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 also had roles in numerous films, such as Veer Bheem Sen and Ramayan, and in other television serials. He starred as Bhima in various Mahabharata movies, besides also playing Balram, he also starred as Shiva in various theological movies.
His last Hindi movie was Jab We Met and the 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 including Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun, Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar, Dhyanu Bhagat and Rab Dian Rakhan. He also directed two films in Hindi; Bhakti Mein Shakti and Rustom, which were produced and directed under the banner "Dara Film" which he set up in 1970. Singh acted as himself in the 1985 Malayalam film Mutharamkunnu P.O..
Dara Studio
Singh was the owner of Dara Studio at Phase 6, Mohali City, District SAS Nagar, Punjab. Dara Film Studio was founded in 1978. The studio was operational from 1980 as a film studio.Politics
Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 1998. He became the first sportsperson 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.Comics
Singh's son Vindu Dara Singh, launched his first comic book The Epic Journey of the Great Dara Singh at Oxford Bookstore in New Delhi in February 2019.Personal life
Singh married twice. He had three sons and three daughters, including Vindu Dara Singh. His brother Randhawa was also a wrestler and actor.Death
Singh was admitted into Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 7 July 2012 following a massive heart attack. Two days later, it was confirmed that he had brain damage due to the lack of blood flow. He was discharged from hospital on 11 July 2012, citing that nothing can be done to prolong life, and died the next day at his home in Mumbai. He was cremated at Juhu crematorium.Awards and recognition
In 1996, Singh was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. He was ranked 94 out of 100 wrestlers for Dave Meltzer's Top 100 Wrestlers of all time in 2002. In 2016, Dara was included in the list India's top wrestlers of all time. On 7 April 2018, WWE inducted him in WWE Hall of Fame Legacy class of 2018.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1952 | Sangdil | |||
| 1954 | Pehli Jhalak | Wrestler Dara Singh | ||
| 1960 | Engal Selvi | Tamil film | ||
| 1962 | King Kong | Jingu / King Kong | ||
| 1963 | Faulad | Faulad Singh | ||
| 1963 | Rustom-E-Baghdad | Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad | ||
| 1963 | Awara Abdulla | Abdulla | ||
| 1964 | Samson | Samson | ||
| 1964 | Aaya Toofan | Deepu | ||
| 1964 | Jagga | Jagga Daku | ||
| 1964 | Aandhi Aur Toofan | |||
| 1964 | Darasingh: Ironman | Dara Singh | ||
| 1965 | Rustom-E-Hind | |||
| 1965 | Boxer | |||
| 1965 | Tarzan comes to Delhi | Tarzan | ||
| 1965 | Sher Dil | |||
| 1965 | Raaka | |||
| 1965 | Saat Samundar Paar | |||
| 1965 | Mahabharat | Bheem | ||
| 1965 | Sikandar-E-Azam | Alexander | ||
| 1965 | Lootera | |||
| 1966 | Dulla Bhatti | Dulla Bhatti | Punjabi film | |
| 1966 | Naujawan | |||
| 1966 | Veer Bajrang | |||
| 1966 | Husn Ka Ghulam | |||
| 1966 | Dada | |||
| 1966 | Daku Mangal Singh | Daku Mangal Singh / Kumar | Hindi film | |
| 1966 | Jawan Mard | |||
| 1967 | Chand Par Chadayee | |||
| 1967 | Do Dushman | |||
| 1967 | Watan Se Door | |||
| 1967 | Nasihat | |||
| 1968 | Jung Aur Aman | |||
| 1968 | Balram Shri Krishna | Balram | ||
| 1969 | Danka | |||
| 1969 | Thief of Baghdad | |||
| 1969 | Faulad Ki Aulad | |||
| 1969 | Toofan | Badal | ||
| 1970 | Choron Ka Chor | Ashok | ||
| 1970 | Hudd kar di | Devendra Singh Dhanowa | ||
| 1970 | Ilzaam | Raju/Kishan | ||
| 1970 | Mera Naam Joker | Sher Singh | ||
| 1970 | Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar | Kartar Singh | Punjabi film | |
| 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 | Punjabi film | ||
| 1972 | Sultana Daku | |||
| 1975 | Warrant | Pyaara Singh | ||
| 1973 | Hum Sab Chor Hain | |||
| 1973 | Mera Desh Mera Dharam | |||
| 1974 | Kuwara Baap | |||
| 1974 | Amar Saheed Bhagat Singh | Kaher Singh | ||
| 1974 | Bhagat Dhanna Jatt | Dhanna Jatt | ||
| 1974 | Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam | Daku Daulay Khan | ||
| 1974 | Har Har Mahadev | Bhagwan Shiv | ||
| 1974 | Satguru Teri Oat | Punjabi film | ||
| 1974 | Kisan Aur Bhagwan | Dhanna | ||
| 1974 | Zehreela Insaan | |||
| 1975 | Dharam Karam | Ustaad ji | ||
| 1975 | Dharmatma | Pahelwan | ||
| 1976 | Bajrangbali | Hanuman | ||
| 1976 | Lambhardarni | Lambardar/Dharma | Punjabi film | |
| 1976 | Raakhi Aur Rifle | Ganga Singh | ||
| 1976 | Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun | Kartar Singh | Punjabi film | |
| 1976 | Apna Khoon Apna Dushman | |||
| 1977 | Jai Bolo Chakradhari | |||
| 1977 | Jai Mata Di | Balbir | Punjabi film | |
| 1977 | Ram Bharose | Sardar Vikram Singh | ||
| 1978 | Bhakti Mein Shakti | Dyanu Bhakt | ||
| 1978 | Dhyanu Bhagat | Dhyanu Bhagat | Punjabi film | |
| 1978 | Nalayak | Pahelwan | ||
| 1978 | Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath | Nihalchand | ||
| 1978 | Giddha | Bhalwaan Dulla ji | ||
| 1979 | Chambal Ki Raani | |||
| 1979 | Jhoota Kahin Ka | Bodybuilder, Dance partner in Item Song | ||
| 1980 | Shiv Shakti (1980 film) | |||
| 1980 | Banmanush | |||
| 1981 | Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan | |||
| 1981 | Khel Muqaddar Ka | |||
| 1982 | Main Intequam Loonga | Ajay Kumar | ||
| 1982 | Rustom | Rustom Mangal Singh | ||
| 1983 | Babul Da Vehra | Punjabi film | ||
| 1983 | Unkhili Muttiar | Mechanic | Punjabi film | |
| 1984 | Maya Bazar | Ghatotkach | Gujarati film | |
| 1984 | Aan Aur Shaan | |||
| 1985 | Mutharamkunnu P.O. | Himself | Malayalam film | |
| 1985 | Mard | Raja Azaad Singh | ||
| 1985 | Vikram Aur Betaal | Virvar | TV; 2 episodes | |
| 1986 | Karma | Dharma | ||
| 1986 | Bulekha | |||
| 1986 | Krishna-Krishna | Bhagwan Shri Balram | ||
| 1986 | Ramayan | Hanuman | TV series | |
| 1986 | Sajna Sath Nibhana | Joseph | ||
| 1986 | Maaveeran | Sethupathi | Tamil film adaptation of Mard | |
| 1988 | Maula Jatt | Maula Jatt & Dharma | ||
| 1988 | Paanch Fauladi | Ustadji | ||
| 1988 | Mahaveera | Delar Singh | ||
| 1988 | Mahabharat | Hanuman | TV series | |
| 1989 | Shehzaade | Jailor | ||
| 1989 | Elaan-E-Jung | Bheema | ||
| 1989 | Gharana | Vijay Singh Pahelwan | ||
| 1990 | Tera Mera Pyar | Preet's father | ||
| 1990 | Naaka Bandi | Dharam Singh | ||
| 1990 | Pratiggya | Daku Delavar Singh | ||
| 1990 | Sheran De Putt Sher | Subedaar | ||
| 1991 | Dharam Sankat | Dara | ||
| 1991 | Ajooba | Maharaja Karan Singh | - | |
| 1991 | Maut Ki Sazaa | Pyara Singh | ||
| 1992 | Prem Deewane | Loha Singh | ||
| 1993 | Bechain | Captain Dara | ||
| 1993 | Anmol | Dara Shamsher, Zafar's father | ||
| 1994 | Karan | |||
| 1995 | Ram Shastra | Police Commissioner | ||
| 1995 | Jai Veer Hanuman | Kesari | TV serial | |
| 1997 | Lav Kush | Hanuman | ||
| 1997 | Main Maa Punjab Dee | Punjabi film | ||
| 1998 | Guru Gobind Singh | |||
| 1998 | Auto Driver | Telugu film | ||
| 1998 | Qahar | Guest appearance | ||
| 1999 | Dillagi | Veer Singh | ||
| 1999 | Zulmi | Baba Thakur | ||
| 1999 | Door Nahin Nankana | Bhakhtawar Singh | ||
| 1999 | Hudd Kar Di | Devender Singh Dhanwa/Papaji | TV series | |
| 2000 | Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge | Sapna's grandfather | Guest appearance | |
| 2001 | Farz | Tayaji | ||
| 2002 | Shararat | Mr. Gujral | ||
| 2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Pritam Chaddha | ||
| 2003 | Border Hindustan Ka | Jamail Singh | ||
| 2004 | Family Business | TV series | ||
| 2006 | Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa | Amardeep Sehgal | TV series | |
| 2006 | Dil Apna Punjabi | Hardam Singh | ||
| 2007 | Jab We Met | Geet's grandfather | ||
| 2012 | Ata Pata Lapata | Guest appearance |
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wide Wrestling Association
- *WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- *NWA [Canadian Open Tag Team Championship] - with Yukon EricIndian promotions
- *Commonwealth Championship
- *World Championship
- *Champion of Malaysia
- *Rustam-e-Hind
- *Rustam-e-Punjab
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- *Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
- WWE
- *WWE Hall of Fame
Autobiography
- Dara Singh Meri Atmkatha 1993 Praveen Prakashan