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Image source: StarsUnfolded

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Dara Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth19 November 1928

Age83 (at time of death)

BirthplaceRatangarh Village, Gurdaspur District, Punjab, India

ProfessionWrestler, Actor, Director, Producer, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried (at the time of death)

SpouseSurjit Kaur Aulakh (second wife); Bachno Kaur (first wife, divorced)

FamilyThree sons and three daughters; notable relatives include nephew Shaad Randhawa and brother-in-law Ratan Aulakh

Dara Singh Biography

Dara Singh (Deedar Singh Randhawa) was an Indian wrestler-turned-actor, director, producer and politician best known for his unbeaten professional-wresting

Early life and background

Deedar Singh Randhawa, widely known by his ring name Dara Singh, was born on 19 November 1928 in Ratangarh village in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. He grew up in Dharmu Chak village and left formal schooling early to help with family farming. As a child he was married and later moved to Singapore where he worked in a drum-manufacturing mill and was encouraged to pursue professional wrestling. He trained in Singapore under Harnam Singh in the Indian pehlwani style before beginning his international wrestling career.

Wrestling career

Dara Singh debuted as a professional wrestler in 1948 and built a reputation for strength and showmanship. Over the course of his career he competed widely, traveling for tournaments around the world. He fought some 500 professional matches and, according to records from his career, remained unbeaten in those bouts. Highlights include becoming Champion of Malaysia by defeating Tarlok Singh in 1950, notable victories over opponents such as the Australian-Indian wrestler known as King Kong, and winning the Commonwealth title in 1959 after competing against several international stars.

Among his most celebrated feats was a 1968 victory over Lou Thesz of the United States, which earned him recognition as World Wrestling Champion. He also claimed titles such as Rustam-e-Punjab and Rustam-e-Hind during his active years. Dara Singh officially retired from active competition in June 1983; his last tournament was held in Delhi.

Film and television

While still active in the ring, Dara Singh began appearing on screen. His film acting debut in Bollywood came with Pehli Jhalak (1954). Over subsequent decades he moved between Hindi and regional cinema, acting in Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam and Telugu films and later taking on directing and producing roles. He founded Dara Film Studio in Mohali, Punjab, in 1978 and continued to be involved in cinema both in front of and behind the camera.

Dara Singh developed a successful film partnership with actress Mumtaz in the 1960s; they worked together on many projects and earned a reputation as high-earning stars of their era. His last leading role as a hero came in Rustom (1982), after which he transitioned to character parts. On television, he became widely recognized for his portrayal of the Hindu deity Hanuman in the mythological series Ramayan, broadcast in 1987–1988.

He appeared in a large body of work across languages—around 122 Hindi films and 22 Punjabi films—and had credits as actor, director and producer. Among his last screen appearances were the Hindi film Ata Pata Laapata (2012) and Punjabi and television projects listed from the 2000s.

Politics and public service

Dara Singh entered public life in multiple ways. He campaigned in earlier elections and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 1998. He served as a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha from 2003 to 2009. Beyond electoral politics, he served for several years as chairman of the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) and held leadership roles in community organizations, including as president of the Jat Mahasabha.

Awards, writings and honours

Throughout his sporting and cinematic career Dara Singh received numerous honours. He won the Professional Indian Wrestling Championship and other national and international wrestling titles. The Government of India presented him the Best Actor Award for Jagga in 1964. He published an autobiography in Punjabi titled Meri Aatm Katha in 1989. Posthumous honours include induction into halls of fame: the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996 and later recognition by WWE in 2018. A statue commemorating him was unveiled in Mohali in 2019.

Personal life and family

Dara Singh married twice. His first marriage was to Bachno Kaur; that union ended in divorce. He later married Surjit Kaur Aulakh, with whom he had several children: three sons and three daughters. His family included people who worked in film and wrestling—sons Parduman Randhawa and Virender Singh Randhawa followed him into acting, and another son, Amrik, became a film producer. His nephew Shaad Randhawa is an actor. Dara Singh was the brother-in-law of actress Malika and of actor Ratan Aulakh.

Health, death and legacy

On 7 July 2012 Dara Singh suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Although discharged on 11 July, he remained in poor condition and died at his home in Mumbai on 12 July 2012 due to cardiac arrest at the age of 83. His life bridged sport, cinema and politics, and he is remembered for his larger-than-life screen presence, distinctive physique and a long, celebrated wrestling record.

Public profile

Dara Singh was popularly nicknamed the Ironman of Indian cinema and was often described as the Action King or the original muscle man of Bollywood. His career earned him cross-generational recognition, and his image remains part of Indian popular culture through film, television and public memorials.

Latest updates

In the years after his death, a biography based on his life was published and launched in 2016. The following decade brought further institutional recognition, including his WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2018 and a commemorative statue unveiled in Mohali in 2019.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Dara Singh, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Ramayan

Television role as Hanuman (1987-1988)

1987-1988
Ata Pata Laapata

Hindi film appearance (2012)

2012
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Career Highlights

  1. Unbeaten record over some 500 professional wrestling matches
  2. World Wrestling Champion after defeating Lou Thesz (1968)
  3. Popular film star in Hindi and Punjabi cinema with around 122 Hindi films and 22 Punjabi films
  4. Portrayed Hanuman in the television serial Ramayan (1987-1988)
  5. Rajya Sabha member for the BJP (2003–2009)
  6. Founded Dara Film Studio in Mohali (1978)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dara Singh born?

19 November 1928

What is Dara Singh known for?

Wrestler, Actor, Director, Producer, Politician

What is Dara Singh’s marital status?

Married (at the time of death)

Who is Dara Singh married to?

Surjit Kaur Aulakh (second wife); Bachno Kaur (first wife, divorced)