Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Nitin Chandrakant Desai, an art director and producer, committed suicide at the age of 57. Nitin was reportedly discovered deceased at his Karjat, Maharashtra, studio. Prior to further investigation, police stated that it appears to be a case of suicide.
A bankruptcy court last week accepted an insolvency petition against Desai’s company after it missed payments on a loan totaling Rs 252 crore to its financial creditor. Problems with repayment began in January 2020 for Desai’s business, ND’s Art World Pvt Ltd, which had borrowed Rs 185 crore through two loans from ECL Finance in 2016 and 2018. The entire default amount was Rs 252.48 crore as of June 30, 2022, according to an order made by NCLT. Desai’s company claimed that a fire event at the studio on May 7, 2021 caused property loss and that the creditors were to blame for filing a recovery notice that same day in its response submitted prior to the order’s passage. The financial creditor requested Raigad district officials to take control of ND Studio a few months ago. The reason behind the art director’s harsh action is still unknown, though.
Desai’s close friend and BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde stated to Hindustan Times, “I used to often converse and counsel him. I had informed him that Amitabh Bachchan had endured severe setbacks before bouncing back. We had assured him that he could start over even if the studio had been attached because of loans. It’s heartbreaking to learn about his passing.
Film and TV personalities expressed shock at his demise, and paid tributes.
Vivek Agnihotri
I am heartbroken and sad beyond control to learn about my dearest friend Nitin Desai’s death. A legendary Production designer, a visionary who made ND Studio… Nitin not only loved Pallavi and I, he always guided me even in films we didn’t do together. Why Nitin, why?
ॐ शांति। pic.twitter.com/k843azk3x9— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 2, 2023
Bollywood stars reacted shock and paid tribute after learning of his passing. “I am heartbroken and sad beyond control to learn about my dearest friend Nitin Desai’s death,” the director Vivek Agnihotri wrote in a statement. A visionary who founded ND Studio, a legendary production designer… Nitin not only adored Pallavi and myself, but he also always helped me even when we weren’t working on the same movie. Why Nitin, why? ॐ शांति।”
Riteish Deshmukh
Deeply shocked to know that #NitinDesai, a legendary Production Designer who has contributed immensely to the growth of Indian cinema in no more. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
I had known him for years.. soft spoken, humble, ambitious & a visionary… you… pic.twitter.com/Pgkz4Mx3K7— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) August 2, 2023
A condolence message was sent by actor Riteish Deshmukh. “Deeply shocked to learn that “Deeply shocked to know that #NitinDesai, a legendary Production Designer who has contributed immensely to the growth of Indian cinema in no more. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. I had known him for years.. soft spoken, humble, ambitious & a visionary… you will be missed my friend. Om Shanti 🙏🏽,” he wrote.
Sanjay Dutt
Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Nitin Desai. A brilliant art director and a good friend, his contribution to Indian cinema has been monumental. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
— Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) August 2, 2023
“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Nitin Desai,” the actor Sanjay Dutt wrote in a post. He has made a significant contribution to Indian cinema as a superb art director and dear buddy. In this trying time, my thoughts are with his family and friends.
Siddhartha Basu
Shocked & saddened to hear about the passing of friend & artistic collaborator, Nitin Desai. He made sets for so many of our shows – KBC, Kamzor Kadi, Heartbeat, Bluffmaster Dus ka Dum, Sach ka Saamna.. Conjuring world class installations on an industrial scale. Om shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/pdfpOgr8gR
— Siddhartha Basu (@babubasu) August 2, 2023
Siddhartha Basu, who collaborated with Desai on well-known reality shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati and Dus Ka Dum, expressed his shock upon hearing of the death of his “friend and artistic collaborator”. The shows KBC, Kamzor Kadi, Heartbeat, Bluffmaster, Dus ka Dum, and Sach ka Saamna are just a few of the ones he created sets for. creating industrial-scale installations of the highest calibre. On Twitter, Basu posted, “Om shanti.
Neil Nitin Mukesh
Cannot accept the heartbreaking news . Our beloved #nitindesai has left for his heavenly abode 🙏🏻🙏🏻. He was simply a genius. A visionary artist with grace,style who understood not just his craft but people. He was a positive soul who spread only love to all . My God give his… pic.twitter.com/qUBaQ0lnUL
— Neil Nitin Mukesh (@NeilNMukesh) August 2, 2023
The actor Neil Nitin Mukesh also paid respect, writing: “Deeply shocked to know that #NitinDesai, a legendary Production Designer who has contributed immensely to the growth of Indian cinema in no more. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
I had known him for years.. soft spoken, humble, ambitious & a visionary… you will be missed my friend. Om Shanti 🙏🏽.”
Well-known art director
He was a well-known art director who contributed to several Hindi and Marathi films. He collaborated closely with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, building the stunning sets for many of his films, notably Bajirao Mastani and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Additionally, he collaborated with directors like Ashutosh Gowariker, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Rajkumar Hirani. The 2019 epic war drama Panipat, which was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, was the last movie for which he worked as the art director.
Tamas TV programme
Mumbai-based Desai began working on the Tamas TV programme set as the fourth assistant director while studying photography at JJ School of Arts. In 1994’s 1942: A Love Story, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, his work was initially acknowledged. Nitin had the chance to create the Slumdog Millionaire 2008 set in 2008.
Worked on numerous more films
The late art director also worked on numerous more films, such as Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Dostana, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Munnabhai MBBS, Mission Kashmir, Josh, and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. In 2005, he also opened ND Studios, a film production facility in Karjat, a suburb of Mumbai.
The work of Nitin was well valued. He received the Filmfare Best Art Direction Award three times (Devdas, Khamoshi, 1942: A Love Story) and the National Film Award for Best Art Direction four times (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lagaan, Devdas, and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam).