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)