How I, Dalip Singh Rana, became The Great Khali

The start of a beautiful journey happened all of a sudden and unknowingly. I had not even heard of WWE, which was an international professional wrestling competition at that time. Once, on a trip to Mangalore, I had a discussion with my friends and eventually, the discussion veered towards wrestling shows and WWE. That was when I heard of WWE for the first time.

My co-passengers who were fellow bodybuilders informed me about a few of the popular WWE stars — The Undertaker, Kane, Big Show, The Rock and many more — who were popular all around the world. They were superstars and were loved by millions of people. I came to know more about their fight matches, their huge fan following and glamorous lifestyles.

The life of these big stars fascinated me more and more and, throughout the journey, I kept on inquiring about them. Some of my friends started comparing me with the best wrestlers of WWE. They made me believe that I could also be like those stars. They told me that if I were to go to the US, I could also be like one of them.

After residing blissfully in the land of dreams for a few hours, I suddenly wondered how I would ever get to travel to the US. How could a person who came from a humble background and couldn’t even speak and understand English, ever get a chance to travel abroad?

After I discussed the entire plan with my friends, I started to put together things for myself. I tried to look for sponsors who could send me to the US. I didn’t have any idea of the requirements for going outside the country. I tried to know more and more about the required formalities.

The quest began to find a suitable training academy, where I could get proper training to begin with and to practice the sport in a professional manner. My search ended at the All Pro Wrestling school in the US.

Going abroad and enrolling in an academy needed a lot of money. Given my humble background, it was not possible. However, I had the good fortune to have supportive friends. They helped me with the financial issues and also with the formalities of applying to the academy.

I realised that I could not leave for the US without obtaining permission from the Punjab Police. This unnerved me. I tried to get permission but I didn’t get the approval. Putting my job at stake, I left for the US. Even though it was a risky choice, I didn’t have any other alternative.

After a long journey lasting almost a day, I finally arrived at the San Francisco airport. The academy had sent someone to receive me at the airport. I remember that while greeting him, I shook his hand with such force that he grimaced in pain. Idiotically, I wanted to show him how powerful I was!

I was initially taken to the academy where I met the owner and the coach. The academy was in a huge two-storeyed building, which consisted of a ring in the main practice hall with some equipment in one corner. In the centre of the front wall was a screen which displayed the fights of the wrestling champions.

For the first time, I saw the wrestling ring which would become my karmabhumi, and so I touched it and bowed before it. Then, I was introduced to the students by the coach. My physique set me apart from the others. I saw people discussing my build and their expressions of surprise.

I was in a process of exploration — exploration of a new country, a new career and of my own self.

(Reprinted with publisher's permission. Courtesy of Mail Today.)

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