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As many of you may have seen in the news recently, the past few days had been a period of difficulty for one of India's most beloved entertainers. The great Dara Singh had been hospitalized after he suffered a cardiac arrest on July 7th, 2012. Complications arose, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away earlier today surrounded by family and friends. He was 84 years young.
It was indeed painful to learn of this news at first, and I was initially reluctant to share it here. If there's one thing my mytho buddies and I can almost unanimously agree on, it's the fact that we LOVE Dara Singh. Much as I'll miss seeing those eyes that glimmered with 'masti' even at such an advanced age, it is of some consolation that God sheltered him now rather than letting him suffer for too long.
Rather than simply mourning, let us take this opportunity to celebrate his life and its many accomplishments. His journey as an entertainer began in the wrestling ring, where he earned a reputation as a world champion after defeating fighters from the US the the Far East and everywhere in between.
He then took to the silver screen, turning low budget Bollywood action capers into box office hits (often with support from the beautiful Mumtaz).
From the late 60s onwards, he acted in over a dozen mythological films. He put forth charismatic portrayals of a number of memorable characters including Lord Shiva, Balram, Bhim, and - who could ever forget, his legacy - Ram Bhakt Hanuman. In 1987, he brought that role to television screens in Ramanand Sagar's classic Ramayan with such a perfect mix of mischief and devotion that even today, his face comes to millions of minds upon hearing the name "Hanuman".
He then entered the realm of politics to make a difference on a broader scale, making audiences smile with cameos in films and on television as recently as Jab We Met in 2007.
Even offscreen, he is remembered by his colleagues including Dharmendra, Arun Govil, Deepika, etc. as a soft spoken, kind-hearted family man. For further reading, here's his filmography and bio, an interesting article on his personal life, and tributes from various members of the film industry.
I thank him for the devotion he inspired in viewers like me who will forever associate him with Hanumanji, and I pray that wherever he is now, he may continue to experience God's grace and mercy.
Please join me in paying respects to this great man, celebrating his achievements, and sharing your thoughts and prayers.
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