‘Rustum-e-Hind’ Dara Singh: The end of the ‘strongman’ and Real Super Hero saga

3D Picture of Dara Singh With his famous role Hanuman and family picture(Inset) created by me (Manash Kundu)

Dara Singh ( 19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012):
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 by Bhartiya Janata Party during August 2003 – August 2009.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 was multifaceted person with great physical and acting talent . He was first Real wrestling hero of India as well as Asia. 
  Early life and career:
Dara Singh was born as Deedar Singh Randhawa in a Sikh family to father Surat Singh and mother Balwant Kaur, on 19 November 1928 in Dharmuchak village (now falls under Amritsar district) in British Punjab.Dara Singh's Height 6'2" inch., Weight is 130Kg., And Chest is 52inch.

3D Picture of Dara Singh With his famous Wrestling pose and Movie Pose with  actress Mumtaz created by me (Manash Kundu)

 

Wrestling:
Due to his massive physique, he was encouraged in Pehlwani, an Indian style of wrestling, in the milked sand wrestling pits called akhada. 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 Singh was involved with 500 professional fights to his credit and he remained undefeated in all of them. In the world of wrestling, he competed against some of the greatest names like King Kong (Australia), George Gordienko (Canada), John Desilva (New Zealand) and others. Singh won the titles of 'Rustam-E-Punjab' and 'Rustam-E-Hind' for his wrestling prowess.

Dara Singh With his famous Wrestling pose

 

Singh went to Singapore in 1947 and 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, became the Indian Champion and won the title Rustam-E-Hind in 1954.

Dara Singh mentioned as the World Cup Holder in a poster of the World Cup for Wrestling

 

His last tournament where he announced his retirement was held in Delhi in 1983,inaugrated 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.

‘Rustum-e-Hind’ Dara Singh

 

Dara Singh will always be remembered for one of the most exciting fights in the history of wrestling competitions when he lifted an almost 200kg King Kong of Australia over his head and twirled him around.His bouts with King Kong invariably attracted huge crowds who were left fascinated by the show of strength and skills. 

Dara Singh With the Family of Smt Indira Gandhi ( Great Former Prime Minister of India)

Pandit Neheru also loved to see his Wrestling match. Therefore he also very close to Smt Indira Gandhi`s (Former Prime Minister of India and Daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru) Family and her Children both Sri Rajiv Gandhi (Former Prime Minister of India) and Sri Sanjay Gandhi. 

 Films and television
He started his career as an actor in 1952 with Sangdil. He is known as the first Action King of Bollywood and was successful as action hero in the 1960-69 in Hindi Films and in Punjabi films from 1970-82.

He was first Indian hero who started the trend of hero having a eight pack abs and taking the shirt off. He appeared in 121 Hindi feature films and in 21 Punjabi films. He made guest appearances in one Telugu and one Malayalam film. Of the 144 films he did, 58 had him play the main lead.

In 70's and 80's, his Punjabi films with him in the lead were more successful and in the 70's in Hindi films, he achieved success more in mythological hits like Tulsi Vivah, Har Har Mahadev, Bajrangbali, Bhakti Mein Shakti. He took up supporting roles in Hindi Films from 1980's till 2012. He turned a producer, director and writer when he made Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar in 1970. He also did 6 TV serials. One of his notable friends was the actress Mumtaz with whom he had performed in 16 Hindi films and had 10 of them as box office hits. 

One of his notable friends was the actress Mumtaz with whom he had performed in 16 Hindi films and had 10 of them as box office hits.

 

 
He tasted commercial success as a hero from the film King Kong in 1962. His commercially successful Hindi films in sixties were Awara Abdulla , The Thief of Baghdad, Aay Toofan, Dara Singh The Ironman, Rustom-E-Baghdad and with Mumtaz films like Faulad, Veer Bhimsen, Samson , Hercules, Tarzan Comes to Delhi, Sikandar E Azam, Rustom-E-Hind, Raaka, Boxer, Daku Mangal Singh were successful. In each film opposite Mumtaz, his remuneration was 4.5 lakh per film and Mumtaz earned 2.5 lakh for each film they did together. 

3D Picture of Dara Singh With his famous role Hanuman and his recent picture created by me (Manash Kundu)

 

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 'Mahabharat' and in role of 'Hanuman' both in films and TV serial. He was become very famous in this  mythical Hanuman role ( Close companion Lord Ram (reincarnation of Lord Vishnu) . Common People of India Even Worshipped him as a Lord Hanuman after the grand success of this T.V. Serial Ramayana during late 80s.

Scene form old Dara Singh Movie

 

 He worked with Prathviraj Kapoor' in 'Sikander-e-Aazam', 'Khakaan', 'Lootera', 'Daku Mangalsingh' and 'Insaaf'. He also played the 'Alexender' with great comfort in 'Sikander-e-Aazam'. He was Very famous for Sikander role  ( Indian name of Alexender) in  this movie.

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 memorable Hindi movie was Jab We Met and last Punjabi movie released before his illness is Dil Apna Punjabi. 

Scene of Dara Singh in Movie "Mard"

 
In 1985 Dara Singh acted with great Indian Super-Star Amitabh Bachchan in a movie named " Mard" where he played a role of a father of Amitabh Bachchan.In This famous movie he said a very famous Dialogue that  " Mard Ko dard Nahin Hota" means real Macho Man can`t  feel  any physical pain.

He acted in National Award winning film Main Maa Punjab Dee (Director Balwant Singh Dullat).He directed 7 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.

Dara Singh With His Happy Family (Inset) Picture

 

Dara Studio
Singh was 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.

Dara Singh`s Recent Picture

 

Death
He was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 7 July 2012 following a cardiac arrest.  In the late hours of 11 July 2012, he was released from hospital in deference to the wishes of his family and shifted to his residence. He died on 12 July 2012, at 7.30 local time in the morning, at his residence in Mumbai, surrounded by his family and friend

Dara_Singh's_funeral_