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 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
World Cup Wrestling poster portraying Dara Singh as the World Cup Holder.
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
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 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. 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, and directed two films in Hindi, Bhakti Mein Shakti and Rustom (1982).
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
- Rustam-e-Punjab, 1966
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
- Class of 1996
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