Vijay Benedict is an Indian former Bollywood playback singer who provided playback for over 35 Bollywood films in the 1980s and early 1990s. He made his debut as a singer for the hit 1982 film Disco Dancer singing the popular title song "I Am a Disco Dancer" for actor Mithun Chakraborty. The film's director was Babbar Subhash and music director was Bappi Lahiri. He was frequently used as the playback singer for films starring Mithun Chakraborty which were directed by Babbar Subhash and music by Bappi Lahiri. He also worked with other music directors like Laxmikant Pyarelal, Anand-Milind and Nadeem-Shravan and sang for other actors like Govinda, Jackie Shroff and Aamir Khan. He has sung duets with female singers like Alisha Chinai, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Parvati Khan, and male singers like Amit Kumar and Kumar Sanu.In 1991 he quit playback singing for Bollywood films after death of his brother in Germany. He then devoted himself to his Christian religion and is now a Gospel Singer. In an interview with Dibin Samuel in Christian Today, Benedict reveals how he came to Christ. He said:My younger brother working at a five star hotel was murdered in Germany. I flew to that country, and upon a little investigation learnt that a drug dealing was happening in the hotel which my brother witnessed and complained to the police. The drug dealers shot my brother and fled the scene even before the police could arrive. My brother's death shook me and led me to think on questions of life which I found no answer. My brother lacked nothing and lived a comfortable life. He had all luxuries he wanted but he wasn't there. This posed a lot of questions on human life. I was totally disturbed. Nothing at this crisis, including my wealth and status could fill this void in my heart. I was desolate, spiritless and unstable. What in this world can make me happy? What can render in me "everlasting peace" which I could not find in all the prosperousness of my life? I tried different things to find peace. My films were really doing well, but I can tell you I was not happy. Nothing could bring me out of this dejected state. It was then that somebody introduced me to Christ. My life changed thereafter. It was not the same. I can boldly confess today that I found peace in Christ and His Word. I learnt to rejoice in Christ's grace which now I know is sufficient for me in my life. Jesus, the living God, became the panacea of all my problems. I subsequently realized how beautiful it was being with God. None other than Him could fill this spiritual void in me. He taught me to forgive my brother's killers and love and pray for my enemies like He did. With the Lord's calling in my life, I decided to dedicate my music to God and to His worship. There was no turning back, my life was fully offered to Him from there.
$1.4 Million
