IPL spot-fixing: Who is Vindoo Dara Singh?

New Delhi: Being born to a famous father can have its disadvantages. And Vindoo Dara Singh is one such example. While his father, the great wrestler and actor Dara Singh was known as a 'gentle giant' and loved by one and all, Vindoo himself could never really come out of his father's gigantic shadow until 'Bigg Boss 3' happened.

Being a star son, acting in films came naturally to Vindoo and he made his debut in a film called 'Karan' in 1994 which failed to make a mark at the Box Office. He even appeared in a popular TV series called 'Jai Veer Hanuman', playing the title role of Hanuman, just like his father had played in Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan'. But while Dara Singh made his TV debut after enjoying an illustrious career in films in the 1960s, Vindoo's stint on TV could not help the actor in gaining a foothold in the film industry.

The actor appeared in miniscule roles mostly playing the sidekick to the main actor. Married to actress Farah (Tabu's sister), the actor was more in news for being married to a popular actress and being Dara Singh's son but never on his own accord. But marriage with Farah did not last too long. Post his divorce, the actor married model Dina Umarova and the couple have a daughter Amelia.

The actor's moment in the spotlight came when he appeared in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 3'. Many of his co-contestants had initially issues with him while they all were inmates in the house. He was accused of plotting and was often seen involved in verbal fights with co contestant Bakhtiyar Irani. While his co- contestants may have had problems with him, he was voted by viewers and went on to win the third season of the show.

Post his win, the actor was seen in films like 'Kambakkht Ishq', 'Housefull', 'Housefull 2' and 'Joker'- all of which had his 'good friend' Akshay Kumar in the lead. In fact, after his 'Bigg Boss' win, Vindoo had even admitted in an interview to a daily that Akshay was instrumental in getting him to participate in the show.

Films, TV shows and appearances in various Page 3 parties perhaps wouldn't have got Vindoo the kind of attention that the recent arrest got him. While his fate in the recent spot-fixing case is uncertain at the moment, the man has managed to get the spotlight back on him, albeit for all the wrong reasons.