Art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai dies by suicide at 57

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• Aug 2, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai has died by suicide at the age of 57...

Digital Desk: Art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai has died by suicide at the age of 57. Reportedly, Nitin was found dead at his studio in Karjat, Maharashtra. According to police, the death appears to be a suicide, and an investigation is underway.

"Today morning, Shri Nitin Desai's body was found hanging in ND Studios. We are looking into all possibilities," Somnath Gharge, SP, Raigad said in a statement. According to reports, Desai was under financial stress as his studio was not performing well. The studio is located in Raigad's Karjat region, around 50 kilometers from Mumbai.

Bollywood celebrities expressed their grief at his death and paid tributes. Director Vivek Agnihotri wrote, "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।"

Actor Riteish Deshmukh paid his condolences. "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.

He was a well-known art director who worked on a number of Hindi and Marathi films. He worked extensively with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, creating sets for many of his films, including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Bajirao Mastani. He has also worked with filmmakers like as Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Ashutosh Gowariker. His most recent film as an art director was the 2019 war epic drama Panipat, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.

Mumbai-based Desai studied photography at JJ School of Arts and began her career as the fourth assistant director on the sets of the TV show Tamas. His work was first recognized in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1994 film, 1942: A Love Story. In 2008, Nitin was given the opportunity to design the set of Slumdog Millionaire 2008.

Other films to the credit of the late art director include Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Dostana, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Munnabhai MBBS, Mission Kashmir, Josh, and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, among many others. He also opened his film studio, ND Studios in 2005 on the outskirts of Mumbai at Karjat.

Nitin's work was much appreciated.  He won the National Film Award for Best Art Direction four times (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lagaan, Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) and the Filmfare Best Art Direction Award three times (Devdas, Khamoshi, 1942: A Love Story).