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..
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 | |||||
1985 | Mutharamkunnu P.O | Sibi Malayil |
+ 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 |
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