Vindu Dara Singh recalled how his father, Dara Singh, sat him down and asked him to quit non-veg before portraying the role of 'Hanuman'.
Dara Singh, born Deedar Singh Randhawa, was an Indian professional wrestler, actor, director and politician. The actor was born into a Punjabi Jat Sikh family and was the first sportsman to be nominated for the Rajya Sabha of India. He started his acting career in 1952 and worked as a Hindi and Punjabi film producer, director and writer.
The legacy of veteran actor and bodybuilder, Dara Singh when it comes to portraying the role of 'Hanuman' is unmatched. He immortalised the role of 'Lord Hanuman' in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan. In a recent interview, Dara Singh's son and actor, Vindu Dara Singh, revealed his experience of stepping into his father's enormous shoes by playing the role of 'Hanuman' in the TV show, Jai Veer Hanuman and performing the character in live shows.
Vindu Dara Singh shared that his father was supportive and never stopped his children from pursuing their goals. However, the actor had strict guidelines when it came to portraying the revered role of 'Hanuman'. So, when Dara Singh learned that his son, Vindu, was given an opportunity to play the role of the revered deity on the small screen, he asked his son to follow a set of rigorous rules. The first rule being that the actor would have to quit eating non-vegetarian food.
In a conversation with the YouTube channel, Just Baat, the actor, Vindu recalled that his father had told him that playing the role of 'Hanuman' was not a small thing. He had given the a list of strict rules which his father had given him. Sharing about the same, he stated:
"He told me that playing this character isn’t a small thing. There are some strict rules involved. He said that on the days you play this character, you must take a bath, perform prayers, and completely avoid non-vegetarian food. He warned me, 'Don’t even touch it.' He also emphasised that there shouldn’t be any impure thoughts in my head. Only after following these guidelines, he told me to approach the role with sincerity and devotion. He said, 'Varna Hanuman ji ki aise lath padege ke tu yaad rakhega.'"
Vindu Dara Singh, in the same conversation, shared his personal experiences of playing 'Hanuman'. He highlighted how the costume and dialogue infused him with a sense of vibrant energy and strength. The actor explained that despite the surreal feeling of playing the character, this powerful connection wasn't unique to him.
He added that his father had shared similar feelings when the veteran actor portrayed the divine character. Vindu fondly recounted an anecdote about his father, Dara Singh and revealed about the profound impact the role had of the actor's life. He revealed that even after the Ramayan had ended, Dara Singh would occasionally say 'Hanuman's' dialogues in his sleep. He stated:
"He would recite Hanuman’s dialogues even while sleeping. My mother would wake him up saying, 'The show ended 10 years ago!'"
What are your thoughts on Vindu Dara Singh's revelation?
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