Former wrestling champion and actor Dara Singh died at his home in Mumbai on the morning of July 12 following a brief illness, doctors treating him said. He was 84.

Bollywood celebrities and people from all walks of society gathered to pay their last respects to the legendary wrestler-actor, who was cremated in suburban Mumbai later in the afternoon. Members of the film fraternity and thousands of fans witnessed his final journey. His body was taken in procession in a truck decorated with flowers, from his home to the crematorium, where the last rites were performed.

Besides family members, those present from the film industry were veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, director Sajid Khan, actor-director Parmeet Sethi, actors Dheeraj Kumar, Jaspal Bhatti, Anoop Soni and Raza Murad. After the death of his father, Singh's actor son Vindu Dara Singh texted, "Angel now gone to shine like a star up above".

Congress leader Kripashankar Singh was also present. He told reporters that he had come to pay tribute on behalf of party president Sonia Gandhi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and the Congress party.

TV actor Feroz Khan, who was with him in the serial Mahabharata said, "He was like a father to me...he treated me like his son. Simplicity was another name of Dara Singh." Abhishek Bachchan, Tabu, Bobby Deol, Manoj Kumar and others went to his residence in Juhu to pay condolences.

Celebrities expressed their condolences on twitter, "Wrestlers are made of sweat, determination and a hard to find alloy called guts...most apt for Dara Singhji our very own Superman. Will miss you sir," said Shah Rukh Khan, while Abhishek Bachchan wrote "Dara ji passes away. Had the honor of working with him in Shararat. The most gentle and kind man. Really looked up to him. Will miss him. He was always so loving and gave the best hugs. Remember meeting him for the first time while dad was shooting Mard. Was convinced that he truly was the only human who could not be pulled apart by even airplanes." Abhishek's father Amitabh Bachchan, who was a good friend of Singh, expressed his grief by saying, "A great Indian and one of the finest humans... An entire era of his celebrated presence gone!"

Singh had been undergoing dialysis at the hospital. It was his family's wish that Singh should be home in the last stages of his life, a hospital official had announced. Singh is survived by his wife and six children – three sons and three daughters.

Singh, who had won the title of Rustam-e-Hind for his wrestling prowess, appeared in various films and TV serials. He also 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.

Singh is best known for his portrayal of Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana and in BR Chopra's Mahabharata. He had appeared in films such as Watan Se Door, Daada, Rustom-E-Baghdad, Sher Dil, Sikandar E Azam, Raaka, Mera Naam Joker and Dharam Karam and was last seen in the 2007 release Jab We Met. He had also directed films. Singh was a member of Rajya Sabha from Bhartiya Janata Party during August 2003 to August 2009.