Dara Singh passes away

Dara Singh (19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012; born Deedar Singh Randhawa), was an Indian wrestler and film actor. He started acting in Hindi films in 1962. He was nominated member of Rajya Sabha by Bhartiya Janata Party during August 2003 – August 2009.

He died on 12 July 2012 around 7.30 in the morning at his residence in Mumbai due to cardiac arrest.

Dara Singh was born in a Sikh Jat family to Balwant Kaur and Surat Singh Randhawa on 19 November 1928 in the village Dharmuchak of Amritsar district in Punjab.He was encouraged in wrestling due to his massive physique. He worked at his Farm as a kid.He was encouraged to study Pehlwani, an Indian style of wrestling, in the milked sand wrestling pits called akhara. Dara Singh was a favourite in wrestling tournaments in India. In addition to this, he wrestled on invitation of kings of Indian princely states and wrestled frequently in haats and melas (fairs and carnivals). He successfully competed against some of the greatest names in wrestling history and professional wrestlers in the United States.

Dara went to Singapore in 1947. Became the Champion of Malaysia (Indian style wrestling) by defeating Tarlok Singh in Kuala Lumpur. He has toured almost all far-east countries as a Professional Wrestler. Dara Singh returned to India in 1952 and became the Indian Champion in 1954.

His Last tournament where he announced his retirement was held in Delhi, Inaugrated by Rajiv Gandhi and the winning trophy was presented by Giani Zail Singh. He remains as the Action King of Bollywood of the 1960s and 1970s, and believed to have started the trend of Taking the shirt off. He is included in the wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of fame. He made a large number of Hindi films which had him in the lead. One of his notable finds was the actress Mumtaz with whom he had performed in 16 Hindi films. He then went on to television in the 1980s and 1990s where he played the role of Hanuman in the television adaptation of the Hindu epic Ramayan. He worked in some television serial shows, including Had Kar Di which was aired on Zee TV. He has acted in over 100 films. His latest Hindi movie is Jab We Met and his latest Punjabi movie is Dil Apna Punjabi. He acted in National Award winner film Main Maa Punjab Dee (Director Balwant Singh Dullat).

Singh retired from active wrestling in 1983.In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Singh is also the owner of prestigious Dara Studio at Mohali, District Mohali, Punjab. Dara Film Studio was founded in 1978. The Studio is operational from 1980 as film studio. Dara Studio is a self-contained mini-city with every facility within the compound. They are a fully equipped Studio with Camera, Camera Equipment, Nagra Lights and all type of Extra Equipment like Stands, Trolleys, Cables for filming Movies, Serials & Pop Albums throughout North India.
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