Nitin Desai Death: Renowned art director Nitin Desai committed suicide late on Tuesday night. His manager told that he hanged himself at 3.30 in the night at his ND studio in Karjat near Mumbai. His age was 58 years. He used to spend most of his time in this studio. Police sources told Bhaskar, Desai had gone to his room at 10 pm on Tuesday. He did not come out for a long time this morning. His body guard and others knocked on the door. When seen from the window, Desai's body was found hanging from the ceiling fan. Police has sent the dead body for postmortem. In this case, the police have so far recorded the statement of 10 people.
Two reasons for suicide are coming to the fore. One financial crisis, the other medical problem. However, this has not been confirmed yet. Maharashtra MLA Mahesh Baldi told today that he was facing financial crisis. He said that this could be the reason for his suicide.
On the other hand, some time ago, he had told Dainik Bhaskar off camera that his medical problem had increased a lot after his daughter's marriage. He is survived by two daughters and a son. Both daughters live in America. Son is studying.
Production designer Subrata Chakraborty recalled Nitin Desai and said- Nitin Dada had raised the stature of art directors very high. Because of him, today we are called production designers. His contribution cannot be forgotten.
Worked continuously for 13 days and 13 nights on the sets of the first project
Nitin started his career in 1987 with the TV show 'Tamas'. He stayed on the same set for 13 days and 13 nights. In an interview, he had said, at that time even if he had gone to take a bath for 15 minutes, he felt that he was wasting his 15 minutes.
Nitin had designed sets for films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Lagaan, Devdas, Jodhaa Akbar and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. He received the National Film Award for Best Art Direction four times. The last time he worked for the film Panipat.
ND Studio formed in the desire of not being able to work in Brad Pitt's film
In a conversation with Bhaskar four months ago, Nitin had told that he had formed ND Studio in the desire of not being able to work in Brad Pitt's film. Nitin had told, 'American film director Oliver Stone had offered me to work. With him I visited many cities like Ladakh, Udaipur, Maharashtra for 9 days. He was to make Alexander the Great with Brad Pitt. He had to shoot some part of the film in India. We discussed everything but when I took him to a studio, he got a bit nervous seeing her.
'The budget of the film was 650 crores, but the kind of infrastructure was not found. Then I felt that such a studio should be made which can fulfill the expectation of international people. Keeping this in mind, after searching for a lot of locations, I got the opportunity to set up ND Studio in Karjat.
Sheeshmahal of one crore glass was made for the film 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'
Aamir Khan's film 'Mangal Pandey - The Rising' was first shot at ND Studio. Then Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Traffic Signal' and Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Jodha Akbar' were shot. Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan stayed on the set for 6 months for this film.
Every big movies of Salman Khan like Wanted, Bodyguard, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Kick, all have been shot here. Nitin had told, Salman likes to shoot by staying close to nature, that's why he chooses this studio. He stayed on the set for 90 days for 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'. For this film, we made a Sheeshmahal of one crore glasses. Whenever Salman comes here, most of them roam around by scooty without security.
The advertising agency had alleged fraud
In May, an advertising agency accused Desai of cheating him of Rs 51.7 lakh. The agency had said that despite getting the work done for three months, Desai had not paid the money. However, Nitin denied these allegations. He had said that the agency had made similar allegations against him in the past as well.
Staff was not paid salary for 7 months
Maharashtra legislator Mahesh Baldi said on Wednesday that Desai was facing financial crunch. Bhaskar was told by the studio staff that Desai had not paid salaries to the employees for 7 months. They were giving little money for the expenses. Most of the staff, including the studio manager, had quit.
Bhaskar had interviewed Nitin Desai in April this year. During this, he had told off camera that after the marriage of his daughter, his medical problem had increased a lot. He was struggling with financial problems even during the lockdown. He also shared many things about his career, ND Studio and life.
He told an anecdote that mother always used to ask what is the job of an art director. Seeing my dirty clothes, mother would always ask what do you do? It took me six and a half years to reply to my mother. One day I invited my parents on the sets of 'Chanakya'. Complete set shown. I told that I have built this whole palace. Hearing this her heart was filled, she cried, I also cried.