Dara Singh

Dara Singh was an Indian wrestler-turned-actor from Indian Punjab. He started acting in 1952 and was the first sportsman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He has also worked as Hindi and Punjabi film producer, director and writer in his career. He has also been an Indian television actor.

He started his career as an actor in 1952 with Sangdil. He was confined to B-grade roles 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 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. 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 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 in Sikander-e-Aazam. He worked in some television serial shows, including Had Kar Di which was aired on Zee TV and Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa for StarOne. His last Hindi movie was Jab We Met and 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 of which Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun, Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar, Dhyanu Bhagat, Rab Dian Rakhan were commercial hits, 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. He produced 8 films and wrote the story for 7 films. These films were produced and directed under the banner “Dara Film” which he set up in 1970.

He was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 7 July 2012 following a cardiac arrest. 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. He was cremated at Juhu crematorium.

 

Films  Done By Dara Singh

  • 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 Done By Dara Singh

  • 1952 Sangdil
  • 1954 Pehli Jhalak Wrestler Dara Singh
  • 1960 Engal Selvi Tamil film
  • 1962 King Kong  Jingu / King Kong
  • 1963 Faulad Faulad Singh
  • 1963 Rustom-E-Baghdad  Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad
  • 1963 Awara Abdulla  Abdulla
  • 1964 Samson Samson
  • 1964 Aaya Toofan Deepu
  • 1964 Jagga Jagga Daku
  • 1964 Aandhi Aur Toofan
  • 1966 Husn Ka Ghulam
  • 1966 Dada
  • 1966 Daku Mangal Singh Daku Mangal Singh / Kumar
  • 1966 Jawan Mard
  • 1967 Chand Par Chadayee
  • 1967 Do Dushman
  • 1967 Watan Se Door
  • 1967 Nasihat
  • 1968 Jung Aur Aman
  • 1968 Balram Shri Krishna Balram
  • 1969 Thief of Baghdad
  • 1969 Faulad Ki Aulad
  • 1969 Toofan Badal
  • 1970 Choron Ka Chor Ashok
  • 1970 Hudd kar di Devendra Singh Dhanowa
  • 1970 Ilzaam Raju/Kishan
  • 1970 Mera Naam Joker  Sher Singh
  • 1970 Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar Kartar Singh Punjabi film
  • 1971 Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon
  • 1971 Ramu Ustad Ramu
  • 1971 Tulsi Vivah Bhagwan Shiv
  • 1971 Anand Pahalwan Guest appearance
  • 1972 Aankhon Aankhon Mein Pahelwan
  • 1972 Hari Darshan Bhagwan Shiv
  • 1972 Lalkaar
  • 1972 Mele Mitran De Punjabi film
  • 1972 Sultana Daku
  • 1975 Warrant  Pyaara Singh
  • 1973 Hum Sab Chor Hain
  • 1973 Mera Desh Mera Dharam
  • 1974 Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam Daku Daulay Khan
  • 1974 Har Har Mahadev Bhagwan Shiv
  • 1974 Kisan Aur Bhagwan Dhanna
  • 1974 Zehreela Insaan
  • 1975 Dharam Karam Ustaad ji
  • 1975 Dharmatma Pahelwan
  • 1976 Bajrangbali  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  Pahelwan
  • 1978 Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath Nihalchand
  • 1978 Giddha Bhalwaan Dulla ji
  • 1979 Chambal Ki Raani
  • 1979 Jai Mata Di
  • 1981 Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan
  • 1981 Khel Muqaddar Ka
  • 1982 Main Intequam LoongaAjay 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.Himself Malayalam film
  • 1985 Mard  Raja Azaad Singh
  • 1985 Vikram Aur Betaal Virvar TV; episode 2
  • 1986 Karma  Dharma
  • 1986 Bulekha
  • 1986 Krishna-Krishna Bhagwan Shri Balram
  • 1986 Ramayan Hanuman TV Series
  • 1986 Sajna Sath Nibhana Joseph
  • 1986 Maaveeran Tamil film adaptation of Mard.
  • 1988 Maula Jatt Maula Jatt & Dharma
  • 1988 Paanch Fauladi Ustadji (Fauladi #1)
  • 1988 Mahaveera Delar Singh
  • 1988 Mahabharat  Hanuman TV Series
  • 1989 Shehzaade Jailor
  • 1989 Elaan-E-Jung Bheema
  • 1989 Gharana Vijay Singh Pahelwan
  • 1990 Tera Mera Pyar Preet’s father
  • 1990 Naaka Bandi Dharam Singh
  • 1990 Pratiggya Daku Delavar Singh
  • 1990 Sheran De Putt Sher Subedaar
  • 1991 Dharam Sankat Dara (the dacoit)
  • 1991 Ajooba 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  Police Commissioner
  • 1997 Lav Kush Hanuman
  • 1997 Main Maa Punjab Dee Punjabi film
  • 1998 Guru Gobind Singh
  • 1998 Auto Driver Telugu film
  • 1998 Qahar Guest appearance
  • 1999 Dillagi Veer Singh
  • 1999 Zulmi Baba Thakur
  • 1999 Door Nahin Nankana Bhakhtawar Singh
  • 1999 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
  • 2003 Border Hindustan Ka Jamail Singh
  • 2004 Family Business TV series
  • 2006 Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa Amardeep Sehgal (Dadaji) TV series
  • 2006 Dil Apna Punjabi Hardam Singh
  • 2007 Jab We Met Geet’s grandfather
  • 2012 Ata Pata Lapata Guest appearance
  • 2012 Championships and accomplishments
  • 2012 World Wide Wrestling Association
  • 2012 WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
  • 2012 Maple Leaf Wrestling
  • NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time)- with Yukon Eric(1951)

 

Commonwealth Championship Done By Dara Singh

  • World Wrestling Championship(1951 )
  • Champion of Malaysia (1951)
  • Rustam-e-Hind (1954)
  • Rustam-e-Punjab (1966)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter(1966)
  • Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2018)