Manohar Singh was born on April 12, 1938, in Kwara, a small village near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He graduated from the National School of Drama (NSD) in 1971 and began his career in theatre, eventually becoming the chief of the NSD Repertory Company from 1976 to 1988. Singh was known for his powerful performances in plays such as Tughlaq and Himmat Mai, and he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in 1982. He transitioned to film and television, appearing in over 27 films including Party (1984), Daddy (1989), and Rudaali (1993). Singh also featured in popular television series like Dard and Pal Chhin. He was married, though details about his spouse remain less documented. Manohar Singh passed away from lung cancer on November 14, 2002, in New Delhi.