Dara Singh

Dara Singh  

Dara Singh  
Born Deedar Singh
19 November 1928
Dharmuchak (now Amritsar district), British India  
Died 12 July 2012 (aged 83)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  
Nationality Indian  
Other names Rustam-E-Punjab
Rustam-E-Hind
Ironman of Indian cinema  
Occupation Wrestler, Actor  
Years active 1946–1983 (wrestler)
1950–2012 (actor)
2003-2009 (politics)  
Website dara-singh.com
Dara Singh (19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012) was an Indian wrestler-turned-actor. 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 on film and television.
Contents
  [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career
2.1 Wrestling
2.2 Films and television
3 Dara Studio
4 Politics
5 Death
6 Personal life
7 Awards and accomplishments
8 Filmography
8.1 As actor
8.2 As director
8.3 As producer
9 References
10 Autobiography
11 External links
Early life[edit]
Dara Singh was born on 19 November in 1928[1] in the village of Dharmuchak, which was then a part of British Punjab and is inAmritsar district.[2]
Career[edit]
Wrestling[edit]

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 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. He wrestled by invitation of the kings of Indian princely bda oeoeoeoe and wrestled frequently in haats and melas (fairs and carnivals).[citation needed]
Singh left his village for Singapore in 1948.[2]

All India Jat MahasabhaCentenary Celebrations 2007, Seen in the image are Dharmendra, Dara Singh (sitting in center bearing turban) and Kamal Patel
His last tournament, where he announced his retirement, was held in Delhi in 1983,[3] 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[edit]
He started his career as an actor in 1952 with Sangdil.[4] He was a stunt film actor for many years and played his first lead role inBabubhai Mistry's film King Kong (1962).[5] From around 1963 he partnered often with Mumtaz. With her he performed in 16 Hindi films and the couple became the highest-paid B-grade actors, with Singh receiving nearly four lakh rupees per film.[6] 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.[7] 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. He worked with Prathviraj Kapoor in Sikander-e-Aazam, Khakaan, Lootera, Daku Mangalsingh and Insaaf. He also played the Alexander inSikander-e-Aazam. He worked in some television serial shows, including Had Kar Di which was aired on Zee TV and Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaafor StarOne. His last Hindi movie was Jab We Met and last Punjabi movie released before his illness was Dil Apna Punjabi. He acted inNational 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,[citation needed] and directed two films in Hindi, Bhakti Mein Shakti and Rustom (1982). His directorial venture Bhakti Mein Shakti, a mythological film, completed a record run at Delhi's Imperial Cinema in 1978.[citation needed] He produced 8 films and wrote the story for 7 films.[citation needed] These films were produced and directed under the banner "Dara Film" which he set up in 1970.[5]
Dara Studio[edit]
Singh was the owner of Dara Studio[8] at Mohali, District Mohali, Punjab. Dara Film Studio was founded in 1978. The Studio is operational since 1980 as film studio.
Politics[edit]
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.[4][9]
Death[edit]
He was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 7 July 2012 following a cardiac arrest.[10] 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.[11] He was cremated at Juhu crematorium.[12]
Personal life[edit]
Dara Singh married twice.[13] 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.[citation needed]
Awards and accomplishments[edit]
Rustam-e-Hind, 1954[4]
1958 National Wrestling Alliance Canadian Open Tag Team Championship, with Yukon Eric
Rustam-e-Punjab, 1966
Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, 1996
Filmography[edit]
As actor[edit]

Year Title Role Notes  
1952 Sangdil[4]  
1954 Pehli Jhalak[5] Wrestler Dara Singh  
1959 Jagga Daku Jagga Daku  
1962 King Kong[5] Jingu / King Kong  
1963 Faulad[5] Faulad Singh  
1963 Rustom-E-Baghdad[4] Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad  
1963 Awara Abdulla[7] Abdulla  
1964 Samson[5] Samson  
1964 Aandhi Aur Toofan[7]  
1964 Darasingh: Ironman[7] Dara Singh  
1965 Rustom-E-Hind[5]  
1965 Boxer[7]  
1965 Sher Dil[4]  
1965 Raaka[4]  
1965 Sikandar-E-Azam[4][5] Alexander  
1965 Lootera[7]  
1966 Naujawan[5]  
1966 Veer Bajrang[5]  
1966 Dada  
1966 Daku Mangal Singh[7] Daku Mangal Singh/ Kumar  
1966 Jawan Mard  
1967 Do Dushman  
1967 Watan Se Door[4]  
1967 Nasihat  
1968 Thief of Baghdad[5]  
1968 Jung Aur Aman[7]  
1968 Balram Shri Krishna Balram  
1969 Faulad ki Aulad  
1969 Toofan Badal  
1970 Choron Ka Chor Ashok  
1970 Ilzaam Raju/Kishan  
1970 Mera Naam Joker[4][5] Sher Singh  
1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar[7] Kartar Singh Punjabi film  
1971 Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon[7]  
1971 Ramu Ustad Ramu  
1971 Tulsi Vivah Bhagwan Shiv  
1971 Anand[5] Pahalwan Guest appearance  
1972 Aankhon Aankhon Mein[7] Pahelwan  
1972 Hari Darshan Bhagwan Shiv  
1972 Lalkaar  
1972 Mele Mitran De Punjabi film  
1972 Sultana Daku  
1975 Warrant[7] Pyaara Singh  
1973 Hum Sab Chor Hain  
1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam  
1974 Kuwara Baap[5]  
1974 Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Dhanna Jatt  
1974 Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam Daku Daulay Khan  
1974 Har Har Mahadev[7] Bhagwan Shiv  
1974 Kisan Aur Bhagwan Dhanna  
1974 Zehreela Insaan  
1975 Dharam Karam[4] Ustaad ji  
1975 Dharmatma Pahelwan  
1976 Bajrangbali[5][7] 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 Ram Bharose Sardar Vikram Singh  
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti Dyanu Bhakt  
1978 Dhyanu Bhagat Dhyanu Bhagat Punjabi film  
1978 Nalayak[5] Pahelwan  
1978 Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath Nihalchand  
1978 Giddha Bhalwaan Dulla ji  
1979 Chambal Ki Raani  
1981 Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan  
1981 Khel Muqaddar Ka  
1982 Main Intequam Loonga[5] Ajay Kumar  
1982 Rustom Rustom Mangal Singh  
1983 Babul Da Vehra Punjabi film  
1983 Unkhili Muttiar Mechanic Punjabi film  
1984 Aan Aur Shaan  
1985 Mutharamkunnu P.O.[14] Himself Malayalam film  
1985 Mard[4][5] Raja Azaad Singh  
1986 Karma[5][7] Dharma  
1986 Bulekha  
1986 Krishna-Krishna Bhagwan Shri Balram  
1986 Ramayan[4] Hanuman TV Series  
1986 Sajna Sath Nibhana Joseph  
1986 Maaveeran[15] Tamil film adaptation of Mard.[15]  
1988 Maula Jatt Maula Jatt & Dharma  
1988 Paanch Fauladi Ustadji (Fauladi #1)  
1988 Mahaveera Delar Singh  
1988 Mahabharat[7] Hanuman TV Series  
1989 Shehzaade Jailor  
1989 Elaan-E-Jung[7] Bheema  
1989 Gharana Vijay Singh Pahelwan  
1990 Tera Mera Pyar[7] Preet's dad  
1990 Naaka Bandi[5][7] Dharam Singh  
1990 Pratigya Daku Delavar Singh  
1990 Sheran De Putt Sher Subedaar  
1991 Dharam Sankat Dara (the dacoit)  
1991 Ajooba[5] Maharaja Karan Singh  
1991 Maut Ki Sazaa Pyara Singh  
1992 Prem Deewane Loha Singh  
1993 Bechain  
1993 Anmol Dara Shamsher, Zafar's father  
1994 Karan  
1995 Ram Shastra[5] Police Commissioner  
1997 Lav Kush[5] Hanuman  
1997 Main Maa Punjab Dee Punjabi film  
1998 Guru Gobind Singh  
1998 Auto Driver[16] Telugu film  
1998 Qahar Guest appearance  
1999 Dillagi[5][7] Veer Singh  
1999 Zulmi Baba Thakur  
2000 Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge[5][7] Sapna's grandfather Guest appearance  
2001 Farz Tayaji  
2002 Shararat[17] Mr. Gujral  
2003 Kal Ho Naa Ho[7] Chaddha uncle  
2003 Border Hindustan Ka Jamail Singh  
2004 Family Business TV series  
2006 Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa[18] Amardeep Sehgal (Dadaji) TV series  
2006 Dil Apna Punjabi[19] Hardam Singh  
2007 Jab We Met[4] Geet's grandfather  
2012 Ata Pata Lapata Guest Appearance
As director[edit]

Year Title Notes  
1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar  
1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam[5]  
1974 Bhagat Dhanna Jatt  
1976 Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun  
1978 Dhyanu Bhagat  
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti[5]  
1982 Rustom[5]
As producer[edit]

Year Title Notes  
1978 Bhakti Mein Shakti  
1994 Karan