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Dara Singh

 

NRIs worldwide bids farewell to Dara Singh ji

 

The whole of Bollywood gathered on Thursday evening to pay tribute to actor and wrestler Dara Singh who worked in 140 films and fought 500 professional undefeated fights.

  • Rustam-e-Hind` Dara Singh born on November 19,1928 in Dharmuchak village, Amritsar, Punjab
  • Dara Singh went to Singapore in 1947 and became the Champion of Malaysia by defeating Tarlok Singh in Kuala Lumpur.
  • In 1952, he became the Indian Champion and won the title Rustam-E-Hind in 1954
  • Dara Singh fought 500 professional fights and undefeated in all of them............ Gary Singh

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Dara Singh - the champion loses his final fight (Obituary)

New Delhi, July 12, 2012:

He wrestled his way from the ring to the big screen and the small one to enormous success. Dara Singh went from muscle man to hero and then uncle, father and friend in numerous character roles that endeared him to generations of fans.

Few people would have made the transition from the 'akhara' to the showbiz stage with the success of Dara Singh, who passed away at his home in Mumbai Thursday morning at the age of 84 after a brief illness.

A wrestling hero to some and a much loved cine artist to others, it was a long and eventful life that triumphed many odds.

In his over five-decade long acting journey, he featured in over 140 films, including classics such as "Anand" and "Mera Naam Joker".

It was a many splendoured life.

There was Dara Singh the wrestler, Dara Singh, the hero of 'B' category action films such as "Tarzan Comes to Delhi" and "Samson" in the 1950s and 1960s, Dara Singh, the friendly 'pehelwan' in "Anand", and then Dara Singh who played Hanuman with great effect in the TV blockbusters "Ramayan" and "Mahabharat".

He was last seen in the Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapoor starrer "Jab We Met" as the stern, lovable 'Daarji' who ruled over a noisy, close-knit Sikh family. Quite like the real life man, who intimidated people with his 6' 2" frame but soon won them over with outgoing nature and warmth.

Born to Balwant Kaur and Surat Singh Randhawa Nov 19, 1928 in a village in Amritsar, Punjab, Dara Singh was encouraged to take up wrestling due to his imposing physique and trained in 'pehelwani', an Indian style of wrestling.

He became a star wrestler - and not just on Indian turf.

Dara Singh took on international wrestlers like Lou Thesz and Stanislaus Zbyszko, and had over 500 professional fights to his credit - all undefeated.

He won the Professional Indian Wrestling Championship in 1953, and took away the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship trophy in 1959 by defeating Canadian champion George Godianko.

A recipient of titles like Rustam-E-Punjab (1966) and Rustam-E-Hind (1978), Dara Singh retired from active wrestling in 1983.

In 1989, he published his autobiography "Meri Atmakatha" in Punjabi, and seven years later was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

And while he was wrestling, he was making a name in cinema - both Hindi and Punjabi.

His first release was the 1952 "Sangdil" and then came a succession of films like "King Kong", "Faulad", "Sher-e-Watan" that earned him the name of Bollywood's action king.

During his hey day as a hero, he teamed up with Mumtaz in 16 Hindi films, including "Jawan Mard", "Raaka", "Aandhi Aur Toofan", "Daku Mangal Singh", "Boxer" and "Veer Bhimsen".

Another successful phase in Dara Singh's acting career came when he bagged the role of Hanuman in

Ramanand Sagar's epochal TV series "Ramayan" in 1986. People liked him so much that B.R. Chopra roped him in to play the same role in "Mahabharat".

Dara Singh gave viewers a glimpse of his humorous side through shows like "Hadd Kar Di" and "Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka".

He became a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from August 2003 to August 2009.

Dara Singh also took on the role of a writer, director and producer. In 1978, he launched Dara Studio, a self-contained mini-city with all facilities within the compound, in Punjab's Mohali district.

Dara Singh, who was widowed and got married for the second time, leaves behind his wife, six children - three sons and three daughters. And legions of fans of a man who defined machismo. .........IANS/http://www.nripress.com/slider_detail.php?sid=159

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CM MOURNS PASSING AWAY OF WRESTLER & VETERAN
ACTOR DARA SINGH

SUKHBIR BADAL AND BIKRAM MAJITHIA MOURNS THE DEATH OF
DARA SINGH


CHANDIGARH JULY 12:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of renowned Punjabi wrestler and veteran Bollywood actor Mr. Dara Singh (84) who breathed his last at his residence in Mumbai after a prolonged illness this morning. 

In a condolence message, Mr. Badal described Rustam-e-Hind Dara Singh as a multifaceted personality who earned name and fame in the national as well as international arena of wrestling besides he also acted in over 100 films and remained Member Rajya Sabha from August 2003-09.  He was a fine human being with rare qualities of head and heart.  Mr. Badal also recalled the outstanding contribution of Mr. Dara Singh in making the Punjabi Cinema popular amongst the masses.  His memorable role of Hanuman in the famous television serial ‘Ramayana’ would be ever remembered by one and all.  In the death of Mr. Dara Singh a void has been created in the Indian film Industry which was difficult to be filled, added Mr. Badal. 
Mr. Badal shared his heart-felt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul. 
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the passing away of Mr. Dara Singh describing him as a ‘versatile actor and superb wrestler of his times’ who ruled the hearts of the people across the country. Mr. Dara Singh was a trend setter in making the Punjabi cinema popular amongst the cinemagoers.  In his death India has lost a jewel and even the Punjab was bereft of its illustrious son.     

Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also deeply mourned the death of Mr. Dara Singh who hailed from village Dharmuchuk in Amritsar district and was a heart throb of millions of his fans and would ever remain alive in their hearts for his memorable roles in Hindi as well as Punjabi films besides an undisputed champion of champions in the wrestling ring.   

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Dara Singh was the Superman of our school days: Arvind Khanna

CHANDIGARH, July 12: Punjab Congress general secretary Arvind Khanna today condoled the death of noted film actor and wrestler Dara Singh. “Dara Singh was a legend and the superman of our school days”, Khanna recalled while paying his tributes to the great actor.

In a condolence message, the PCC general secretary said, it would give him a sense of extra pride when the students from other places will admire and idolize him. “I as a Punjabi always felt a strong sense of belonging with him”, he recalled.
Khanna said, Dara Singh was as much decent and gentle at heart as he was strong from outside. “He would always wear a characteristic smile on his face that was so gentle and friendly”, he said and added it was a great loss to Punjab in particular. 

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Capt Amarinder says Dara Singh was a great son of the soil

CHANDIGARH, July 12: Condoling the death of veteran film star and wrestler Dara Singh, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today said, he was the great son of the soil and Punjab and Punjabis have always felt proud of him and will always miss him.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said, while the whole nation is mourning the death of the actor who immortalised himself with great roles like that of Shri Hanuman, Punjabis in particular feel a personal loss.
He pointed out, Dara Singh embodied and symbolized the true and real Punjabi character of gentleness and robustness together. It is difficult to imagine that there will be any household in the contemporary India who may not have known this wrestler and the actor and that made every Punjabi feel so proud of him.