Mumbai, Jul 12: Wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh, who wowed audiences with his brawn and on screen histrionics for over five decades, died here early Thursday morning after losing his five-day fight for life.

A childhood hero to many for his wrestling prowess, 83-year-old Singh, who played Hanuman in the epic teleserial Ramayanan and also dabbled in politics, passed away at 7.30am at his residence in Juhu in suburban Mumbai.

Singh’s family members took him home from Kokilaben Hospital on Wednesday night so that they could be with him in the last few moments of his life. He had been on ventilator support in the hospital.

“He passed away at 7.30 a.m. peacefully,” Dr Ram Narain, COO, Kokilaben Hospital, said.

Vindu Dara Singh, one of Dara Singhs’ sons, 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.”

The very first of action heroes in Hindi films, Singh was last seen in Imtiaz Ali's “Jab We Met” in 2007 where he played Kareena Kapoor's grandfather.

From his first marriage, he has a son Parduman Singh Randhawa and from his second marriage he has five children – three daughters and two sons including Vindu, a TV-film actor.

Standing tall with rippling muscles, Singh made a name in the field of professional wrestling and had over 500 professional fights to his credit, all undefeated.

Singh won the title of 'Rustam-E-Punjab' and 'Rustam-e-Hind' for his wrestling prowess. Also, he became the Commonwealth Champion in 1959 and in 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. He announced his retirement from wrestling in 1983.

A wrestling hero to some and a much loved cine artist to others, Singh muscled his way into the film world with ease will always be remembered for his variety of roles in cinema including his brawny avatar in “King Kong” and “Tarzan”.

One of his notable friends was actress Mumtaz, with whom he starred in 16 Hindi films including “Faulad” (1963), “Veer Bhimsen” (1964), “Hercules” (1964), “Aandhi Aur Toofan” (1964), “Tarzan Comes to Delhi”, “Tarzan and King Kong” (1965), “Sikandar-e-Azam” (1965), “Rustom-E-Hind” (1965).

Singh was brought to the hospital in an emergency condition on July 7. He had suffered a cardiac arrest and since then he had been in the ICU.