Lagaan Art Director Nitin Desai Dies by Suicide in his Studios in Karjat

Nitin Chandrakant Desai was found dead at ND Studios in Karjat on Wednesday, August 2. The National Award-winning art director is suspected to have died by suicide. The police are yet to share the complete details of the cause of death.

Desai was born in Dapoli, Maharashtra on January 25, 1965. He began his career as an art director with the television film Tamas (1987). He went on to work on several other television shows like Kabir (1988-1990), Chanakya (1991), Bharat Ek Khoj (1992-1993), Kora Kagaz (1993), and Swabhimaan (1995-1996). Desai’s first Bollywood film as an art director was  Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). He was an art director on several other hugely successful films like Lagaan (2001), Devdas (2002), Swades (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015). The last Hindi film he worked on as an Art Director was Panipat (2019) with Ashutosh Gowariker. 

Desai also produced the film Desh Devi Maa Ashapura (2003) and the Marathi TV serial Raja Shivchhatrapati (2008). He directed the films Hello Jai Hind! (2011) and Ajintha (2012). Desai opened the sprawling ND Studios in 2005, which housed many large film sets, including the sprawling palaces seen in Jodhaa Akbar. 

Desai was reportedly working on the pandal decoration for the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja this year and an OTT show based on Maharana Pratap.