Vijay Bhatt was an acclaimed producer-director-screenwriter who primarily worked for the Hindi film industry. He was the founder of a film production company titled Prakash Pictures and Prakash Studios in Mumbai. It has produced about 64 feature films. He was also accredited as one of the founding members of Film and Television Producers Guild of India. He has made prominent films like Himalaya Ki God Mein, Goonj Uthi Shehnai, Baiju Bawra and many more.

Early Life of Vijay Bhatt
Vijay Bhatt was born as Vijayshankar Jagneshwar Bhatt on 12th May 1907 to Benkunwar Bhatt and Jagneshwar Bhatt. His father was a railway guard at Palitana, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. Vijay Bhatt shifted to Bombay (now Mumbai) with his elder brother, Shankarbhai Bhatt in his twenties. His brother got a job there and gradually became a famed film producer. Another elder brother of Vijay Bhatt, Harsukh Jagneshwar Bhatt, was also director-producer. Vijay Bhatt joined St. Xavier`s College and completed his Intermediate with Science stream. Later through a correspondence course from London he earned a diploma degree in Electrical Lighting and Traction. Other siblings of Vijay Bhatt included Nirmalaben Pandya, Durlabhben Bhatt and Labhshankarbhai Bhatt.

Career of Vijay Bhatt
After completing his education, Vijay Bhatt began his career with Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company Limited (BEST) in Bombay. He worked there till he became the Drawing Office Superintendent. He was also involved in writing a few scripts for Gujarati theatre. However his rendezvous with Ardeshir Irani brought about the turning point of his career. He introduced Bhatt to the owner of the Royal Film Company studio, Abu Husain. Husain liked one of his scripts which paved the way for his entry into the Hindi film industry. He made his cinematic debut as a screenwriter for K. P. Bhave`s silent film, Vidhi Ka Vidhan. Many of his scripts were produced by Irani including Ghulam and Pani Mein Aag. Eventually Vijay Bhatt produced his first silent film titled Delhi Ka Chhela in the year 1929. Subsequently he went on to direct a number of notable films in Marathi, Gujarati and Hindi cinema.

One of his early films Ram Rajya in 1942 marked to be a bit hit. In the year 1942 it was shown to Mahatma Gandhi which made news in the country. He took the flick to US in 1947 where it was premiered at Museum of Modern Art, New York. His another directional venture was Baiju Bawra in 1952. The movie was based on the historical tiff between the talented singer, Baiju Bawra and Emperor Akbar`s court musician Tansen. The films marked to be a diamond jubilee hit running for hundred weeks in Bombay. It also played a crucial role in establishing the actors Meena Kumari and Bharat Bhushan in the film industry. Meena Kumari, launched by Vijay Bhatt as a child artist in his flick Leatherface, also won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award for Baiju Bawra.

Achievements of Vijay Bhatt
In the year 1966 Vijay Bhatt won Filmfare Best Movie Award for his film Himalaya Ki God Mein.

Personal Life of Vijay Bhatt
Vijay Bhatt was married to Rama Bhatt and the couple had two sons namely Arun Bhatt and Pravin Bhatt and two daughters. They also have six granddaughters and four grandsons. Pravin Bhatt is a cinematographer by profession and his grandson Vikram Bhatt is a renowned film director. Arun Bhatt was a Bollywood film director.

Death of Vijay Bhatt
Vijay Bhatt died on 17th October 1993 in Mumbai at the age of 86.

Selected Filmography of Vijay Bhatt