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Dara Singh Randhawa (born Deedar Singh Randhawa; 19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012) was an Indian people professional wrestler, actor, film 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. His role of Hanuman in the film Bajrangbali (1976) and in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan made him popular. Singh was inducted into the Legacy wing of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
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 (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.
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. 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
1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar 1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam 1974 Bhagat Dhanna Jatt 1976 Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun 1978 Dhyanu Bhagat 1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti 1982 Rustom 1994 Karan + Acting roles 1952 Sangdil 1954 Pehli Jhalak Wrestler Dara Singh 1960 Engal Selvi Tamil cinema 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 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 cinema 1966 Naujawan 1966 Veer Bajrang 1966 Husn Ka Ghulam 1966 Dada 1966 Daku Mangal Singh Daku Mangal Singh / Kumar Hindi cinema 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 Sethupathi 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
Further reading
Autobiography
External links
Categories: 20th-century Indian Male Actors, 21st-century Indian Male Actors, 1928 Births, 2012 Deaths, Bharatiya Janata Party Politicians From Punjab, Film Directors From Mumbai, Film Producers From Mumbai, Hindi Film Producers, Hindi-language Film Directors, Indian Actor-politicians, Indian Male Film Actors, Indian Male Professional Wrestlers, Indian Male Television Actors, Male Actors From Mumbai, Male Actors In Hindi Cinema, Male Actors In Malayalam Cinema, Male Actors In Punjabi Cinema, Nominated Members Of The Rajya Sabha, Politicians From Mumbai, Punjabi Sikhs, Sportspeople From Amritsar District, Wwe Hall Of Fame Legacy Inductees, Professional Wrestlers From Punjab, India, 20th-century Male Professional Wrestlers, Nwa Canadian Open Tag Team Champions, People From Punjab Province
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