Bollywood Art Director Nitin Desai Found Dead In Apartment In Apparent Suicide

Bollywood production designer and art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai was found dead aged 58 at his studio in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, police authorities reported on Wednesday. Desai is believed to have died by suicide, police officials confirmed.

Sources from the police department revealed that Desai’s lifeless body was found hanging at his studio in Karjat. Upon receiving the information, law enforcement responded to the scene. An exhaustive investigation into the circumstances of Desai’s death is currently underway, a police spokesperson told news agency PTI.

Born on January 25, 1965, in Dapoli, Maharashtra, Desai embarked on his professional journey as an assistant art director for the television film ‘Tamas’ (1987), later contributing as an assistant art director for TV series such as ‘Kabir’ (1988-1990) and ‘Chanakya’ (1991).

Desai’s influence extended across television, including works like ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ (1992-1993), ‘Kora Kagaz’ (1993), and ‘Swabhimaan’ (1995-1996).

He made his Bollywood debut as an art director in the film ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999) and has worked in other landmark films like ‘Lagaan’ (2001), ‘Devdas’ (2002), ‘Swades’ (2004), ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ (2008), and ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ (2015).

Over his two-decade-long career, Nitin Desai collaborated with several esteemed filmmakers including Ashutosh Gowarikar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Deceased art director Nitin Desai winner of Filmfare, National Awards, Padma Shri

Widely lauded by critics and audiences alike, Desai’s exceptional artistry earned him four National Film Awards for Best Art Direction and three Filmfare Best Art Direction Awards. In 2016, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India.

Desai’s legacy includes the establishment of ‘ND Studios’, a prominent film and television production hub in Karjat. His sets were characterised by meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy, contributing to some of Bollywood’s most iconic and unforgettable cinematic moments.

Just a few weeks earlier, Nitin Desai conducted a pooja ceremony at his studio for the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He was actively involved in crafting the pandal decoration for the revered ‘Lalbaugchya Raja’ Ganpati mandal in Mumbai.

Desai was also engaged in producing a new show centred around Maharana Pratap, slated for release on an OTT platform.