Acclaimed Hindi film art director and production designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai was found dead at his ND Studios, in Maharashtra's Raigad district, the police told the media on Wednesday, August 2. He was 57. Addressing the press, the police said that Desai was found dead by hanging at around 9 a.m at his ND Studios, and an investigation is currently underway with the help of the cyber forensic department to determine the cause of the death, with fingerprints being analyzed and a dog squad too enforced to assist the law enforcement officers. Although reports state that the reputed Bollywood film personality had died by suicide, the police have said that they are investigating the case from all angles.
VIDEO | "At 9 am today, the body of Nitin Desai was found hanging with a rope at ND Studios. We are investigating it from all angles," says SP Somnath Gharghe.
Film art director Nitin Desai was found dead at his studio in Maharashtra's Raigad district earlier today. pic.twitter.com/cro2d27wPm— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 2, 2023
Born on January 25, 1965, in Dapoli, Maharashtra, Nitin Chandrakant Desai began his career in the Hindi entertainment industry and worked as an assistant art director on the television film, Tamas (1987). He later served in the same role on television shows like Kabir (1988-1990) and Chanakya (1991) before making his debut as an independent art director on Chanakya (1991). Desai continued to work in television on shows like Bharat Ek Khoj (1992-1993), Kora Kagaz (1993), and Swabhimaan (1995-1996) and made his entry into Bollywood as an art director with Parinda (1989) and went on to work on a number of other projects that included 1942: A Love Story (1993), Khamoshi: The Musical (1995), Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (1999), Mission Kashmir (2000), Devdas (2002), The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Dostana (2008), Once Upon a Time in Mumbai (2010), and Panipat (2019). Desai also took on the role of production designer on several films he worked on as an art director, with the ZEE5 Hindi historical period web series Paurashpur (2020) being his last notable work.
Nitin Desai was conferred with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 2016. He also received the National Film Awards for Best Art Direction for films Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Lagaan, and Devdas, and was known for creating large grand sets with intricate detail and great historical accuracy. The news of Desai's demise has come as a big shock to several leading names in the Hindi film industry, with actors Boman Irani, Riteish Deshmukh, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Neetu Chandra paying their condolences on social media.
Saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Nitin Chandrakant Desai. His gorgeous sets in Jodha Akbar, Munnabhai, Lagaan, Devdas… marked his eye for detail and gave wide screen the splendour it deserved.
— Boman Irani (@bomanirani) August 2, 2023
Will be missed sorely.
🙏
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.
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) August 2, 2023
I had known him for years.. soft spoken, humble, ambitious & a visionary… you… pic.twitter.com/Pgkz4Mx3K7
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
I am numb,this is unbelievable. Such an amazing person.. ever smiling #nitindesai this is devastating n heartbreaking. I knew him from the time he did our movie Traffic-Signal. With so many challenges in life these kind of negativity shakes the world! Rest in Peace. OM SHANTI 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tmB1XoKFGP
— Nitu Chandra Srivastava (@nituchandra) August 2, 2023
