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Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Singh at Pran's birthday party in February 2010
Born
Deedar Singh Randhawa

(1928-11-19)19 November 1928
Dharmuchak, Amritsar District, Punjab, British India
(now Punjab, India)
Died 12 July 2012(2012-07-12) (aged 83)
Nationality Indian
Occupation Professional wrestler, actor, politician
Years active 1947–1983 (wrestler)
1950–2012 (actor)
2003–2009 (politician)
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Title Rustam-e-Hind
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)
Bachno Kaur
(m. 1942⁠–⁠1952)

Surjit Kaur
(m. 1961)
Children 6 including;
Vindu Dara Singh
Family See Randhawa family
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Dara Singh
Billed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight 127 kg (280 lb)
Billed from Punjab, India
Trained by Harnam Singh
Debut 1948
Retired 1983
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
27 August 2003 – 26 August 2009

Dara Singh Randhawa (born Deedar Singh Randhawa; 19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012) was an Indian professional wrestler, actor, director and politician. He started acting in 1952 and was the first sportsman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha (upper house) of India. He worked as Hindi and Punjabi film producer, director and writer, and he acted in films and television. He is known for his undefeated worldwide streak in wrestling and later being a successful movie star. He got defeated by Brahmdev Misra of Gorakhpur in Calcutta's Dharmatala. His role of Hanuman in the film Bajrangbali (1976) and in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan made him popular. Singh was inducted into the Legacy Category of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Early life

Singh was born in a Jat Sikh family as Deedar Singh Randhawa to Surat Singh Randawa 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

Dara Singh vs King Kong
Singh wrestling King Kong at JWA in 1955

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 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, weighed 127 kilograms (280 lb) and had a chest measurement of 53 inches (130 cm). Due to his physique, he was encouraged to take up pehlwani, an 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.

In 1954 Dara competed in the Rustam-e-Hind (Champion of India) 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 (1962). 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 (1982), which were produced and directed under the banner "Dara Film" which he set up in 1970. Dara Singh acted as a wrestler named Dara Singh in a Malayalam film Mutharam Kunnu (PO).

Dara Studio

Singh was the owner of Dara Studio at Mohali, District Mohali, 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 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 Parduman Randhawa and 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. 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 Director Producer Notes Ref.
1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar Yes No
1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam Yes No
1974 Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Yes No
1976 Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun Yes No
1978 Dhyanu Bhagat Yes No
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti Yes Yes
1982 Rustom Yes No
1994 Karan No Yes
Acting roles
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
Rustom-E-Baghdad Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad
Awara Abdulla Abdulla
1964 Samson Samson
Aaya Toofan Deepu
Jagga Jagga Daku
Aandhi Aur Toofan
Darasingh: Ironman Dara Singh
1965 Rustom-E-Hind
Boxer
Tarzan comes to Delhi Tarzan
Sher Dil
Raaka
Saat Samundar Paar
Mahabharat Bheem
Sikandar-E-Azam Alexander
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
Do Dushman
Watan Se Door
Nasihat
1968 Jung Aur Aman
1968 Balram Shri Krishna Balram
1969 Danka
Thief of Baghdad
Faulad Ki Aulad
Toofan Badal
1970 Choron Ka Chor Ashok
Hudd kar di Devendra Singh Dhanowa
Ilzaam Raju/Kishan
Mera Naam Joker Sher Singh
Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar Kartar Singh Punjabi film
1971 Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon
Ramu Ustad Ramu
Tulsi Vivah Bhagwan Shiv
Anand Pahalwan
1972 Aankhon Aankhon Mein Pahelwan
Hari Darshan Bhagwan Shiv
Lalkaar
Mele Mitran De Punjabi film
Sultana Daku
1975 Warrant Pyaara Singh
1973 Hum Sab Chor Hain
Mera Desh Mera Dharam
1974 Kuwara Baap
Amar Saheed Bhagat Singh Kaher Singh
Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Dhanna Jatt
Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam Daku Daulay Khan
Har Har Mahadev Bhagwan Shiv
Satguru Teri Oat Punjabi film
Kisan Aur Bhagwan Dhanna
Zehreela Insaan
1975 Dharam Karam Ustaad ji
Dharmatma Pahelwan
1976 Bajrangbali Hanuman
Lambhardarni Lambardar/Dharma Punjabi film
Raakhi Aur Rifle Ganga Singh
Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun Kartar Singh Punjabi film
Apna Khoon Apna Dushman
1977 Jai Bolo Chakradhari
Jai Mata Di Balbir Punjabi film
Ram Bharose Sardar Vikram Singh
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti Dyanu Bhakt
Dhyanu Bhagat Dhyanu Bhagat Punjabi film
Nalayak Pahelwan
Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath Nihalchand
Giddha Bhalwaan Dulla ji
1979 Chambal Ki Raani
Jhoota Kahin Ka Bodybuilder, Dance partner in Item Song
1980 Shiv Shakti (1980 film)
Banmanush
1981 Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan
Khel Muqaddar Ka
1982 Main Intequam Loonga Ajay Kumar
Rustom Rustom Mangal Singh
1983 Babul Da Vehra Punjabi film
Unkhili Muttiar Mechanic Punjabi film
1984 Maya Bazar Ghatotkach Gujarati film
Aan Aur Shaan
1985 Mutharamkunnu P.O. Himself Malayalam film
Mard Raja Azaad Singh
Vikram Aur Betaal Virvar TV; 2 episodes
1986 Karma Dharma
Bulekha
Krishna-Krishna Bhagwan Shri Balram
Ramayan Hanuman TV Series
Sajna Sath Nibhana Joseph
Maaveeran Tamil film adaptation of Mard
1988 Maula Jatt Maula Jatt & Dharma
Paanch Fauladi Ustadji (Fauladi #1)
Mahaveera Delar Singh
Mahabharat Hanuman TV Series
1989 Shehzaade Jailor
Elaan-E-Jung Bheema
Gharana Vijay Singh Pahelwan
1990 Tera Mera Pyar Preet's father
Naaka Bandi Dharam Singh
Pratiggya Daku Delavar Singh
Sheran De Putt Sher Subedaar
1991 Dharam Sankat Dara (the dacoit)
Ajooba| Maharaja Karan Singh
Maut Ki Sazaa Pyara Singh
1992 Prem Deewane Loha Singh
1993 Bechain Captain Dara
Anmol Dara Shamsher, Zafar's father
1994 Karan
1995 Ram Shastra Police Commissioner
Jai Veer Hanuman Kesari TV serial
1997 Lav Kush Hanuman
Main Maa Punjab Dee Punjabi film
1998 Guru Gobind Singh
Auto Driver Telugu film
Qahar Guest appearance
1999 Dillagi Veer Singh
Zulmi Baba Thakur
Door Nahin Nankana Bhakhtawar Singh
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
Border Hindustan Ka Jamail Singh
2004 Family Business TV series
2006 Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa Amardeep Sehgal (Dadaji) TV series
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 (10 time)
  • Maple Leaf Wrestling
    • NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Yukon Eric
  • Indian promotions
    • Commonwealth Championship
    • World Wrestling Championship
    • Champion of Malaysia (1951)
    • Rustam-e-Hind (1954)
    • Rustam-e-Punjab (1966)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter
    • Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
  • WWE
    • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2018)

Autobiography

  • Dara Singh Meri Atmkatha (en. My Autobiography by Dara Singh) 1993 Praveen Prakashan
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