#GoldenFrames: Dara Singh, the famous Indian wrestler, who became a silver screen star - Dara Singh was an icon who boa- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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Dara Singh was an icon who boasted a 53-inch-wide chest. He battled in the Commonwealth Championship and titles in India and Singapore. Singh's battles with Lou Thesz were legendary. He became the National Wrestling Champion in 1954, at the age of 26. The mid-century Indian wrestler became a famous Indian movie star and politician. The international competitor is named a Legacy Inductee in the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame.

In This Pic : Dara Singh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Deedar Singh Randhawa was born on November 19, 1928, in a Jat Sikh family to Balwant Kaur and Surat Singh Randhawa in Dharmuchak, Amritsar District, Punjab, India.

In This Pic : Dara Singh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Dara Singh was pulled out of school to work on farms. Due to financial constraints, his father, Surat Singh Randhawa, often travelled to Singapore. When Dara turned eighteen, he travelled with him to Singapore. Singh was trained in an Indian style of wrestling, Pehlwani. Dara's stature was bigger body measurements than most Indian wrestlers at that time—6ft 2 inches tall with a 53-inch chest. He did petty jobs at a drum manufacturing mill. In Singapore, he met Harnam Singh, his mentor, who initiated Dara Singh into wrestling. Wrestling was huge in Singapore.

In This Pic : Dara Singh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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In his around 500 fights career, apart from winning numerous championships, Singh had also defeated many big international names, such as the famous Australian wrestler King Kong in 1956 and the world champion American wrestler Lou Thesz in 1968. In 1983, Dara Singh announced his retirement from wrestling.

In This Pic : Dara Singh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Dara Singh won the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind' and 'Rustam-E-Punjab' for his wrestling prowess. He became the Commonwealth Champion in 1959. Over five hundred professional fights to his credit, all undefeated. In 1996, Singh was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Six years after his death in 2012, Dara Singh was also inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment's hall of fame in 2018.

In This Pic : Dara Singh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL