The noted wrestler of India and veteran Indian actor, Dara Singh turns 82 today! Born as Dara Singh Randhawa, in Dharmuchuk, Amritsar, on November 19, 1928, he was encouraged to studey Pehlwani, an Indian style of wrestling, due to his physique.

Singh has three sons, Pruduman Singh Randhawa, Vindu Dara Singh and Amrik Singh, and three daughters. He has wrestled on invitation from Kings of Indian princely states and wrestled in haats and melas (fairs and carnivals). He has competed against some of the greatest names in wrestling history and professional wrestlers in the US.

Upon his return to India, Singh held wrestling bouts across the country in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, including a series of matches with Lou Thesz in the late '60s. He turned towards films in the late 1960s and acted in a number of films as a lead role. One of his notable finds was the actress Mumtaz with whom he had performed in 16 Hindi films.

Singh moved 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 on Zee TV. He has acted in over 100 films. His latest movies are Jab We Met in Hindi and Dil Apna Punjabi in Punjabi. He acted in National Award winner film Main Maa Punjab Dee (Director Balwant Singh Dullat).

Singh retired from active wrestling in 1983. In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. May God bless him with a long life.

FridayMoviez wishes Dara Singh a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!