Standing tall

Jasmine Singh

Indian wrestler, actor and politician Dara Singh stood at six-feet-two-and-a-half-inches tall. On his birthday on Monday, his family, friends and well-wishers, who came together for the installation of his statue at Dara Singh Chowk, Mohali, were more than glad. “My father attained great heights in his life and career; he grew taller with each professional win, with each good deed, and this statue reminds me and everyone of what a tall person he was,” shares his son, actor Vindu Dara Singh.

Vindu also gives Dr SP Singh Oberoi of Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust a lot of credit for inspiring him to get a statue made in the honour for Dara Singh. “We got all the necessary permissions before the installation, and now this will become a selfie point for people. But please be careful.”

Comic book

Celebrating Dara Singh’s birthday, his sons and family members also launched the cover of a comic book — The Great Dara Singh — dedicated to the great wrestler. The book has been produced in Hindi and English. Shares Vindu, “The book will be available in the market from December 22; the comic book is produced by my company, whereas the dialogues have been written by Mumbai-based Maruk, a renowned dialogue-writer. George Emmanual is the graphic artist for the book. It took us almost six months to compile the comic book, which is based on the real-life superhero Dara Singh.”

“I have so many memories of my father, but what I remember about him is that despite his tall stature, he has always been a simple and grounded person,” adds Vindu.