Nitin Chandrakant Desai (1965-2023) was an Indian art director, production designer, actor and producer. He is known for his remarkable set designs and visual aesthetics that have appeared in numerous Bollywood films including Lagaan (2001), Devdas (2002), Swades (2004) ), “Jodhaa Akbar” (2008), and “Panipat” (2019). On August 2, 2023, he committed suicide.
Wiki/Biography
Nitin Chandrakant Desai was born on Friday, August 6, 1965, at Bhagwat Multi-Speciality Hospital, Dapoli, Maharashtra (age 57 at the time of death). He completed his education at Wamanrao Muranjan High School (now Wamanrao Muranjan Madhyamik Vidyalaya & Junior College), a Marathi medium school in Mulund, Mumbai. Later, he studied photography at JJ College of Art and LS Raheja College of Art, Mumbai.
Childhood photos of Nitin Chandrakant Desai
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
Nitin Chandrakant Desai and Akshay Kumar
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name was Chandrakant Ganpat Desai. His mother’s name is Meena Chandrakant Desai. She is a film producer. He has a brother and a sister. His sister’s name was Vaisali.
Old photos of Nitin Chandrakant Desai with parents and siblings
wife and children
He is married to Naina Nitin Desai. She is a film producer. He is survived by a son and a daughter. His daughter, Mansi Desai, is Mold3D’s production coordinator.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai with wife and children
religion
He believes in Hinduism.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai performs Yagya at his studio
Profession
Art Director and Production Designer
Nitin Chandrakant Desai started his career in May 1987 by joining Film City Studios, Mumbai, where he quickly transitioned from shooting 2D stills to working in the field of 3D art direction. In the same year, he worked as the fourth assistant to renowned art director Nitish Roy in the telemovie “Tamas” (1987). He worked as the fourth assistant in the TV series “Kabir” for five and a half years. In 1991, he assisted art director Nitish Roy in the filming of the first 25 episodes of the TV series “Chanakya”. From episode 26 onwards, he took over as independent art director.
TV series “Chanakya” poster
In 1993, he made his debut in the film industry as an art director with the film “Bhookamp”. However, he gained recognition after filming the film 1942: A Love Story (1944). In 2008, he created two sets for the film Slumdog Millionaire, including a different set for the “Kaun Banega Crorepati” scene. He has worked as art director and production designer on several blockbusters including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Lagaan (2001), Devdas (2002), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) and “Dhan Dhana Dhan Goals” (2007).
Movie “Lagaan” poster
Apart from films and TV series, he also worked as a production designer on the Hindi web series “Paurashpur” (2020), which premiered on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji.
Producer
Nitin Chandrakant Desai became a filmmaker in 2003 with the spiritual film Desh Devi Maa Ashapura. In 2008, he produced the Marathi TV show “Raja Shivchatrapati” on Star Pravah which went on to become one of the super hit shows of the time. The show returned to air in April 2020 during the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poster of TV series “Raja Shivchatrapati”
In 2009, he produced the Hindi historical drama TV series Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television. In 2011, he produced the Marathi biographical film “Balgandharva”. He also directed the film. He later produced the reality TV show “Marathi Paul Padte Pudhe” which was similar in concept to “America’s Got Talent”. In 2018, he produced the Marathi film “Truckbhar Swapna”.
actor
Nitin Chandrakant Desai made his debut as an actor in SAB TV’s Hindi television show “Hum Sab Ek Hain” (1998). He made his debut in a leading role in the Marathi film “Hello Jai Hind!” in 2011.
The movie Hello Jai Hind! 》Poster
In the same year, he played the role of Lokmanya Tilak in the Marathi biographical film Balgandharva.
dispute
Suspected of deceiving advertising company
In 2018, Vihang Digital World owner Rakesh Shinde filed a complaint against Desai at the Vartak Nagar police station, saying that Desai had not paid him Rs 5.17 million for three months of work. He also claimed that checks he received from Desai either bounced or came from bank accounts that were no longer active. However, Desai denied the allegations in an interview and said he would take legal action against Shinde for making false accusations against him. He said,
The complainant had also made such false allegations earlier. We will take legal action against him. “
There is also a complaint filed against him in the same case, according to reports. Another complainant, Dev Kate, owner of an advertising agency, claimed that Desai owed him Rs 1 crore for work he had done.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
Screen Award for Best Art Direction
- 1994’s “1942: A Love Story”
Nitin Chandrakant Desai wins Filmfare Award for ‘Love Story 1942’
- 1996 Khamoshi: The Musical
- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 1999
- In 2008, he starred in “Gandhi, My Father”
Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction
- 1995’s “1942: A Love Story”
- 1997 Khamoshi: The Musical
National Film Award for Best Art Direction
- For “Dr.” Babasaheb Ambedkar, 1999
- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2000
- “Lagaan” in 2002
Nitin Chandrakant Desai wins National Film Award from APJ Abdul Kalam for ‘Lagaan’
IIFA Best Art Direction Award
- 2009 Jodha Akbar
Maharashtra Film Awards for Best Art Direction
- “Harishchandrachi Factory” 2009
Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
- Nominated in 1998 for “Such a Long Journey”
Nitin Chandrakant wins award
die
He was found dead at ND Studios in Karjat, Maharashtra on August 2, 2023. He reportedly hanged himself. After Desai’s death, some media reported that the cause of Desai’s death was suicide caused by the severe financial crisis. He has a debt of Rs 180 crore to a financial company called CFM. Desai obtained the loan using a total of 42 acres of land and other properties as collateral after entering into loan agreements in 2016 and 2018. Later, he found himself unable to repay the loan, resulting in a huge debt. CFM tried unsuccessfully to recover the loan from Desai. As a result, the company appointed Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction to handle the recovery of all outstanding loan accounts. Despite repeated efforts, Edelweiss was unable to retrieve the specified amount. As a last resort, the company used the National Security Law to recover mortgaged land through property confiscation. Edelweiss subsequently filed a petition with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCTL), which approved the debt recovery proceedings. Media reports on August 3, 2023 showed that he left an audio suicide message shortly before his death at 4 a.m. on August 2, 2023. In the message, he mentioned the names of four people whose contact numbers were saved in his phone’s contact list.
Facts/Trivia
- In 2005, he established ND Studios in Karjat, a suburb of Mumbai. The studio occupies 52 acres (21 hectares). However, Reliance Entertainment later acquired 50% stake in the studio for around Rs 150 crore. The studio is renowned for its extensive and magnificent sets, making it an attractive destination for national and international productions.
- After Reliance Entertainment acquired 50% stake in Big ND Studio, American film studio ’20th Century Fox’ signed a 10-year agreement to rent four floors of the studio. Walt Disney also signed a deal to film at the same studio for 10 weeks.
- On May 7, 2021, a fire broke out at the ND studio on the sets of the film “Jodha Akbar” and the studio authorities reserved the studio as a tourist attraction. The fire destroyed a large portion of the film set. Desai spoke about the damage caused by the fire in an interview and said,
Due to the lockdown, there was almost no one in the studio. By the time the security guard realized it, it was too late. Isme toh hamari koi galti nahi hai, lekin hamare aankhon ke saamne hamara sapna jalta dekhna pada. ”
- In 2022, the four-day mega event ‘Maha-Utsav’ will be held from April 28 to May 1 at ND Studios, Desai, celebrating the rich culture, art, tradition, taste of Maharashtra and bright colors to commemorate the state’s 62nd anniversary. form.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai at ND studio in Maha-Utsav
- In April 2022, Nitin Chandrakant Desai transformed his ND studio into a Bollywood theme park with seven different movie sets and many fun activities. The park opens to the public in April 2022, where visitors can come and recreate famous scenes from Bollywood movies and become a part of iconic Bollywood scenes. Desai spoke about the production of Bollywood theme parks in an interview, saying:
Whenever I see people rushing to get autographs from movie stars, or trying to walk, talk or sing like them, I feel like there should be some facility that gives people the chance to turn their dreams into reality, at least for a short time. Inside. This idea led me to develop this theme park. ”
- Apart from ND Studio, he is also associated with several other companies including KND Investments and Finance Pvt. Ltd., ND Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Ltd., Namaskal Art Studio Pvt. Ltd. and ND S Art World Pvt.Ltd.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education