Vijay Bhatt's Ram Rajya was the only Indian film seen by Mahatma Gandhi during his lifetime.

Meena Kumari won her first Filmfare award for her performance in Baiju Bawra. In fact, this was the first time the category for best actress was included in popular awards. Until Baiju Bawra, Meena Kumari was relegated to doing minor roles in B-grade action movies. It was Bhatt who gave Mehzabeen her screen name as a child star (Baby Meena) and her first major role as an adult. She later went on to establish herself as one of the finest actresses of all time.

In 1943, Ram Rajya celebrated a successful run of over a 100 days - a rare feat indeed, those days!

In 1947, Bhatt's Ram Rajya, which had enjoyed a stupendous run at the box office, premiered in the US at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art in New York on the 5th of May. Subsequent screenings were held on the 6th and 7th of May, under the auspices of Indian Society of America, of which Dr. Chandrashekhar was the President. Later, a banquet was held in Bhatt's honor at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria in New York, with the President of the Motion Picture Association of America, Mr. Eric Johnston as the guest of honor. On behalf of the hosts, Mr. Skouras, the President of Twentieth Century Fox, presented a scroll of honor to Bhatt for his contribution to the Indian Film Industry.

In 1990, Vijay Bhatt was felicitated by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association for his outstanding contribution to the Indian film Industry.

In 1954, Vijay Bhatt visited the Soviet Union as a member of the first ever Indian Film Delegation. The other members included Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Bimal Roy, Anil Biswas, Dev Anand and Nirupa Roy. Bhatt's' Baiju Bawra' was screened at various theatres all over Russia.

After coming to Bombay with his family, Bhatt's attention turned to films and he began knocking at studio gates which didn't open easily for strangers. He was once turned away from a studio in Chowpatty by a watchman named Umer Lala. Years later, the same man was employed by Vijay Bhatt to keep watch at his Prakash Studios gates.

While doing rounds of the various studios in Hollywood, Bhatt had the privilege of meeting various celebrities like the fifteen year old actress Elizabeth Taylor, the swimming beauty, Esther Williams, the child star Shirley Temple and the famous Paul Terry of Terry Toons, the creator of Popeye, Mutt and Jeff and Bugs Bunny. He gifted Bhatt with a personally autographed book of his, 'How to Make Animated Cartoons.'

It was a suggestion given by Gandhiji when Bhatt met him at Valsad that prompted him to make a film on the famous poet saint of Gujarat, Narsi Mehta, whose bhajan 'Vaishnav jan to...' was Mahatma's favorite.

How Stars were Born!
Vijubhai had planned to cast Dilip Kumar and Nargis as the leading pair in Baiju Bawra. However, it was to be so as they both had other pressing commitments. The result: Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari shot to prominence. Rajendra Kumar, who gained a lot of fame after Bhatt cast him in Goonjh Uthi Shehnai, was cast to play the leading role in Hariyali Aur Rasta, but was unable to do so due to heavy shooting engagements down South. Instead he suggested the name of an upcoming actor, whom he thought would do justice to the role. Vijubhai interviewed the young man and found him suitable for the role, thus Manoj Kumar came into being.

As a young man, Bhatt made mythologicals, glorifying Indian culture. In fact, he was even labeled as the 'Torch Bearer of Indian Culture'. Ironically, as he grew older, he made romantic movies. The members of the press often joked about this!