Know all about late National Film Award-winning art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai. Trigger warning: This article contains potential descriptions of self-harm.
One of the most celebrated art directors of Bollywood, Nitin Chandrakant Desai, the man behind the iconic sets of the TV show KBC and movies like Lagaan, and Devdas, was found hanging in his own studio in Karjat on Wednesday morning.
Who was Nitin Chandrakant Desai?
Born in 1965, Nitin Chandrakant Desai was best known for his designing beautiful, lavish sets in big Bollywood movies like Lagaan, Jodha Akbar, and Devdas. The art director attended a Marathi-medium school at Wamanrao Muranjan High School, Mulund.
He later studied photography at J.J. School of Art and L.S.Raheja School of Art in Mumbai before making his mark in the film industry.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai Career
Nitin Chandrakant Desai started his journey as an assistant art director and his first job was as the fourth assistant for notable art director Nitish Roy. He designed took over the set design from the 26th episode of the period TV serial Tamas in 1987, directed by Govind Nihalani. Nitin Desai’s first feature film was Adhikari Brother’s Bhookamp in 1993, however, he got recognition with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s movie 1942: A Love Story.
Over the span of his career of 30 years, Nitin Desai has worked on over 100 films which include Bollywood biggies like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan and more.
Not only films but also designed the set of the popular television reality show KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati). He was lauded by Amitabh Bachchan for his work on the KBC set and the actor credited him for the success of the show.
Amitabh Bachchan said at a book release event of ‘Adhunik Yugacha Vishwakarma’, a biography of Desai, “I’ve never seen any technician being given this kind of a hearty welcome in my career in the film industry that spans over 40 years," Lauding his efforts, Amitabh Bachchan added, "I don’t think that in the history of the Indian television industry, we had ever seen a set as grand as the game show set of KBC. For that I have Nitin Chandrakant Desai to thank because I do feel that much of the popularity of KBC also has a lot to do with his set design."
Some of his other notable works include Parinda, Khamoshi, Maachis, Baadshah, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Raju Chacha. Nitin Desai also designed sets for international projects like Salaam Bombay!, Amok, Such A Long Journey, and Holy Smoke, and not only this, he also created two sets for the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.
After his successful career as an art director, Nitin Chandrakant Desai also turned producer and produced films titled Raja Shivchatrapati in 2008 and Truckbhar Swapna in 2018. He also produced a TV show Marathi Paul Padte Pudhe, which provides a platform for young talent.
He also debuted as a lead actor in Marathi films like Hello Jai Hind directed by Gajendra Ahire. He started his own studio named ND Studio in 2005 situated on the outskirts of Mumbai at Karjat where Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Jodha Akbar was also shot.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai Awards
Nitin Chandrakant Desai’s exemplary contribution to the film and television industry made him win 4 National Film Awards as Best Art Director for Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, and Lagaan.
Nitin Chandrakant Death
Nitin Chandrakant Desai was found hanging in his studio ND studio that he started in 2005. The art director’s death was confirmed by Maharashtra MLA Mahesh Baldi, who while speaking to ANI, said, “He was under financial stress and this could be the only reason for suicide.”
The Raigad SP told ANI, “We have found the body of art director Nitin Desai hanging in his studio in Karjat. Police were informed about this by a worker on the set. When the police team reached the studio we saw his body hanging. We are investigating the case further for ascertaining all the aspects in this case.”
Nitin Chandrakant breathed his last at the age of 58 on Wednesday. His demise has sent shockwaves in the industry with colleagues as well as fans mourning his loss.
Read Lagaan, Jodhaa Akbar art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai found dead in studio; police suspect suicide
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 "Bollywood art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai")
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