[3] He moved to Bombay in his twenties, along with his elder brother, Shankarbhai Bhatt, who took up a job, and went on to become a producer; Vijay enrolled in St. Xavier's College, and completed Intermediate from the Science stream, and later received a diploma in 'Electrical Lighting and Traction' through a correspondence course from London.

[citation needed] After completing his education with an electrician's diploma, Bhatt started his career at Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company Limited (BEST), where he worked till he became the Drawing Office Superintendent.

Irani, who later produced Alam Ara India's first talkie, and also managed the Royal Film Company studio, introduced Bhatt to its owner Abu Husain.

[citation needed] His early film Ram Rajya (1942) was a big hit, and also made news, when it was shown to Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.

[6] His film Baiju Bawra (1952), which was based on the historical tiff between Emperor Akbar's court musician Tansen and the talented singer, Baiju Bawra, ran for a hundred weeks in Bombay, becoming a diamond jubilee hit, and also established its lead cast, Meena Kumari and Bharat Bhushan.