Legendary Bollywood actor dies in Mumbai

NEW DELHI - Legendary Bollywood actor Dara Singh, a former Indian wrestling champion, Thursday passed away after a brief illness at his home in Mumbai, his son said. He was 84.

"My father passed away at 7:30 am following a cardiac respiratory arrest. All the family members were present at his bedside. His last rites will be held in Mumbai," Vindu Dara Singh, his son, told the media.

The veteran actor was admitted to hospital on July 7 following a cardiac arrest. "His condition deteriorated yesterday and was brought home as per his wishes that he wanted to breath his last at his home," his son said.

The former wrestling champion, from the northern Indian state of Punjab, made his acting debut in 1962 in Hindi film industry Bollywood. He became famous for his role as "Hanuman", a key character in mythological television mega series Ramayana in the 1980s.

Dara Singh had also acted and directed and a number of Punjabi movies, and had last acted in Bollywood hit flick "Jab We Met" in 2007.