- Dara Singh
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This article is about the wrestler and film actor from Punjab. For the convicted murderer, see Dara Singh (Hindu nationalist).
Dara Singh Randhawa 
All India Jat Mahasabha Centenary Celebrations 2007, Seen in the image are Dharmendra, Dara Singh and Kamal PatelBorn Dara Singh Randhawa
19 November 1928
Punjab, IndiaOther names Dara Occupation Wrestler, Actor Years active 1962 – present Children Pruduman Singh Randhawa
Vindu Dara Singh Amrik SinghDara Singh Randhawa (ਦਾਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ) (born 19 November 1928) is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.
He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962.[1]
He was nominated member of Rajya Sabha by Bhartiya Janata Party during August 2003 – August 2009.[2]
Contents
Career
Singh is from the area near the village Dharmuchuk in District Amritsar, Punjab, India. Due to his physique[3] 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.
It is said that he defeated former world champion wrestler including Stanislaus Zbyszko. However this is questionable since the link for Zbyszko indicates that he retired in 1925 and Dara Singh was born in 1928. Even if Singh beat Zbyszko, he would have beaten a much older man.
Upon his return to India he held wrestling bouts across the country in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, including a series of matches with Lou Thesz in the late '60s.[4] 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 90s where he played the role of Hanuman in the television adaptation of the film 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.[4] In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Family
He has three sons, Pruduman Singh Randhawa, Vindu Dara Singh and Amrik Singh, and three daughters.
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling Alliance
-
- Canadian Open Tag Team Champion (1 time) – with Yukon Eric
- India
-
- Rustam-E-Punjab
- Rustam-E-Hind
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Filmography
- As director
- Unkhilli Muttiar (1983)
- Rustom (1982)
- Bhakti Mein Shakti (1978)
- Dhyanu Bhagat (1978)
- Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976)
- Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (1974)
- Mera Desh Mera Dharam (1973)
- Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970)
- As producer
- Karan (1994)
- Bhakti Mein Shakti (1978)
- As actor
- Jab We Met (2007) ...Geet's grandfather
- Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka (2006) TV series .... Amardeep Sehgal (Dadaji)
- Dil Apna Punjabi (2006) .... Hardam Singh
- Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) .... Chaddha uncle
- Border Hindustan Ka (2003) .... Jamail Singh
- Shararat(2002) .... Mr. Gujral
- Farz (2001) .... Tayaji
- Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000) .... Sapna's grandfather (guest appearance)
- Dillagi (1999)
- Zulmi (1999) .... Baba Thakur
- Guru Gobind Singh (1998)
- Main Maa Punjab Dee (1998, National Award winner film directed by Balwant Dullat) )
- Qahar (1998) .... Special Guest
- Lav Kush (1997) .... Hanuman
- Ram Shastra (1995) .... Police Commissioner
- Karan (1994)
- Bechain (1993)
- Anmol (1993) .... Dara Shamsher, Zafar's father
- Prem Deewane (1992) .... Loha Singh
- Dharam Sankat (1991) .... Dara (the dacoit)
- Ajooba (1991) .... Maharaja Karan Singh
- Maut Ki Sazaa (1991) .... Pyara Singh
- Maula Jatt (1990) .... Maula Jatt
- Pratigya (1990) .... Daku Delavar Singh
- Sheran De Putt Sher (1990) .... Subedaar
- Shehzaade (1989) (uncredited) .... Jailor
- Elaan-E-Jung (1989) as bheema
- Gharana (1989) .... Vijay Singh Pahelwan
- "Luv Kush" (1989) TV Series .... Hanuman
- Paanch Fauladi (1988) .... Ustadji (Fauladi #1)
- Mahaveera (1988) .... Delar Singh
- "Mahabharat" (1988) TV Series .... Hanuman
- Karma (1986) .... Dharma (Jolly's elder brother)
- Bulekha (1986)
- Krishna-Krishna (1986) .... Bhagwan Shri Balram
- "Ramayan" (1986) TV Series .... Hanuman
- Sajna Sath Nibhana (1986) .... Joseph
- Mutharamkunnu P.O. (1985) .. as himself (language Malayalam)
- Mard (1985) .... Raja Azaad Singh
- Aan Aur Shaan (1984)
- Babul Da Vehra (1983)
- Unkhili Muttiar (1983)
- Main Intequam Loonga (1982) .... Ajay Kumar
- Rustom (1982)
- Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan (1981)
- Khel Muqaddar Ka (1981)
- Chambal Ki Rani (1979)
- Bhakti Mein Shakti (1978) .... Dyanu Bhakt
- Dhyani Bhagat (1978)
- Nalayak (1978) .... Pahelwan
- Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath (1978) .... Nihalchand
- Jai Bolo Chakradhari (1977)
- Ram Bharose (1977)
- Giddha (1976) .... Bhalwaan ji
- Jai Bajrang Bali (1976) .... Bhagwan Shri Bajrangbali/Hanumanji
- Lambhardarni (1976)
- Raakhi Aur Rifle (1976)
- Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976) .... Kartar Singh
- Dharam Karam (1975) .... Ustaad ji
- Dharmatma (1975)
- Warrant (1975) .... Pyaara Singh
- Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (1974) .... Dhanna Jatt
- Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974) .... Daku Daulay Khan
- Har Har Mahadev (1974)
- Kisan Aur Bhagwan (1974)
- Zehreela Insaan (1974)
- Hum Sab Chor Hain (1973)
- Mera Desh Mera Dharam (1973)
- Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) .... Pahelwan
- Hari Darshan (1972) .... Bhagwan Shiv
- Lalkaar (1972)
- Mele Mitran De (1972)
- Sultana Daku (1972)
- Ramu Ustad (1971) .... Ramu
- Tulsi Vivah (1971) .... Bhagwan Shri Shiv
- Anand (1970) as guest appearance
- Choron Ka Chor (1970)
- Ilzaam (1970)
- Mera Naam Joker (1970) .... Sher Singh
- Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (1970) .... Kartar Singh
- Apna Khoon Apna Dushman (1969)
- Toofan (1969) .... Badal
- Balram Shri Krishna (1968) .... Balram
- Jung Aur Aman (1968)
- Chand Par Chadayee (1967)
- Do Dushman (1967)
- Daku Mangal Singh (1966)
- Jawan Mard (1966)
- Thakur Jarnail Singh (1966)
- Boxer (1965)
- Hum Sab Ustad Hain (1965)
- Khakaan (1965)
- Lutera (1965)
- Mahabharat (1965) .... Bheem
- Raaka (1965)
- Rustom-E-Hind (1965)
- Sher Dil (1965)
- Sikandar E Azam (1965) .... Sikander (Alexander)
- Tarzan and King Kong (1965) .... Tarzan's opponent
- Tarzan Comes to Delhi (1965) .... Tarzan
- Teen Sardar (1965)
- Aandhi Aur Toofan (1964)
- Aaya Toofan (1964)
- Badshah (1964)
- Darasingh: Ironman (1964) .... Dara Singh
- Hercules (1964) .... Hercules
- Samson (1964) .... Samson
- Veer Bhimsen (1964)
- Faulad (1963)
- Rustom-E-Baghdad (1963) .... Dara/Rustom-E-Baghdad
- King Kong (1962)
- Jagga Daku (1959) .... Jagga Daku
- Pehli Jhalak (1955)
- Sangdil (1952)
- Urr chala Jatayu (udd gaya popat)(1949) .... lead
- Ramayana .... Hanuman
- Daada ( 1966 )
- Watan Se Door ( 1967 )
- Saat Samunder Paar ( 1967 )
- Navjawan (1966)
References
- ^ Dara Singh. Punjabilok.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-07.
- ^ "Rajya Sabha members". http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/alphabeticallist_all_terms.aspx. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b John Molinaro, The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time, (Winding Stair Press: 2002), p. 199.
External links
- Dara Singh's IMDb entry
Categories:- Indian professional wrestlers
- Indian Sikhs
- 1928 births
- Living people
- Indian film actors
- Indian actors
- Indian television actors
- People from Amritsar
- Bharatiya Janata Party politicians
- Members of the Rajya Sabha
- Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
- Hindi film actors
- Hindi-language film directors
- Indian film directors
- Jat people
- Punjabi people
- Indian actor–politicians
- Non Malayali actors acted in Malayalam-language films
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