Dara Singh passes away

12 JULY: Wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh, who wowed audiences with his brawn and on screen histrionics for over five decades, died here early this morning losing his five-day fight for life. A childhood hero to many for his wrestling prowess, 83-year-old Singh, who played Hanuman in epic teleserial Ramayanan and also dabbled in politics, passed away at 7.30 a.m. at his residence in Juhu in suburban Mumbai. Singh was taken home from hospital last night by his family members so that they could be with him in the last few moments of his life. “He passed away at 7.30 a.m. peacefully,” Dr Ram Narain, COO, Kokilaben Hospital, said. “He was a tough guy... He wanted to stay fit. But unfortunately his body was getting weaker. An angel now has gone to shine like a star up above,”  his son, Vindu Dara Singh told