At the age of 17, Vasant Desai joined the Prabhat Film company,with dreams about becoming an actor. He was both fascinated and inspired by stunt masters Master Vithal and E.Billimoria.
Prabhat Film Company gave him his first break as an actor in the silent film, Khoonee Khanjar(1930). There after he acted in Maya Machindra (1932 – Hindi-Marathi),Amrit Manthan (1934- Hindi-Marathi), Dharmatma (1935 – Hindi-Marathi), SantTukaram (1936- Marathi), Kunkoo (1937 – Marathi), Maajhaa Mulgaa (1938 –Marathi), Manoos (1939 – Marathi), Sant Dnyaneshwar (1940 – Hindi-Marathi), Shejaree(1941 – Marathi) and other films. Additionally,he also took part in non-speaking roles of Prabhat’s films in different languages.
He was to play the first lead Manoos (Marathi) and Aadmi(Hindi), but he lost the role to Shahu Modak. This was the turning point in Vasant Desai’slife, as he gave up acting.
He also got his first chance to record as a playback singer for the film Ayodhya Ka Raja (1932 –Hindi). The song was Sakal Jagat MeinChhatrapati. He also sang for its Marathi version, Ayodhyecha Raja, the song was Jai Jai Raajaadhiraaj for the legendry Govindrao Tembe. As a playback artiste, he sang 14 Hindi songs and 21 Marathi songs.
