The basic training given to Guru Dutt in the field of dancing is credited to the internationally famous danseuse Uday Shankar. Guru Dutt lived along with his family in Calcutta, while he completed his basic education. Financial constraints did not allow him to study above the degree of matriculation, which he completed in 1941. Guru Dutt was creative from a young age and had keen interested in photography. His natural inclination for dancing and emoting people attracted majority of his near ones. His love for music especially Hindi and Bengali folk film music from a tender age was clearly noticeable.

Guru Dutt joined the 'Uday Shankar India Culture centre' in Almora on a five-year scholarship, paying only Rs. 75, which valued quite high in those days. His uncle B. B Benegal helped his throughout his career, specially loved his dancing skills, and was a pillar of support to the family financially. Moreover, his uncle was an artistic influence to the Padukone kids. In the meanwhile, Guru Dutt took up a job as a telephone operator in a mill for a short spell of time and carried on with his dance lessons simultaneously. During his leisure hours and free days, Guru Dutt began to organize his own dance compositions.

After Guru Dutt's dance training at Almora, he got a break in films as a dance director on a three-year contract at Prabhat films, Pune. Along with choreography Guru Dutt assisted directors and even acted in small character roles for some films at Prabhat Studios. In 1944, he acted in a small role as Sree Krishna in 'Chand'; in 1945 he acted and also assisted director Vishram Bedekar in 'Lakhrani'. In 1946 he worked as an assistant director and choreographer in the film ' Hum Ek Hain'. Prabhat Film Company hired Guru Dutt as a choreographer after working with Director Anadinath Banerjee for the film 'Mohan' in 1947 as the assistant producer by the Famous Pictures and Studios at Mumbai. At Prabhat Film Company, he met Dev Anand and Rehman, both of them later became stars. These early friendships helped Guru Dutt to enter the film world without much effort.