[2] However, he struggled for over a decade to make a mark in Hindi movies till Baiju Bawra (1952), which gave him instant stardom and legendary status along with Mohammad Rafi, Meena Kumari and Naushad Ali.

Though a very talented actor and a prominent star of the 1950s and 1960s in Hindi language films, he often took on roles of tragic musicians in the movies.

His pairing with Madhubala proved to be very popular as they worked together in successful films like Gateway of India (1957), Phagun (1958) and Barsaat Ki Raat (1960).

[3] "He portrays historical and mythological characters the best in Hindi movies," states contemporary actor-producer Chandrashekar.

Most of the great songs of major singers of that period such as Rafi, Manna Dey, Talat, and Mukesh were pictured on him.

His elder brother was film producer and high court judge, Rameshchandra Gupta,[4] who owned the Ideal Studio at Lucknow.

Bhushan's wife Sarla died of labour complications after delivering their second child in the early 1960s, soon after the release of film Barsaat Ki Raat.

Bhushan was an avid reader and boasted of a fine collection of books, which he had to sell off like his cars and bungalows in bad times, after he turned co-producer at the instance of his brother.