Nitin Chandrakant Desai (1965–2023) was an Indian art director, production designer, actor and producer. He is prominently known for his extraordinary set designs and visual aesthetics, which have been used in many Bollywood films including ‘Lagaan’ (2001), ‘Devdas’ (2002), ‘Swades’ (2004), ‘Jodha Akbar’ (2008). Is shown in. And ‘Panipat’ (2019). He died after committing suicide on 2 August 2023.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Nitin Chandrakant Desai was born on Friday, 6 August 1965 (age 57 years at the time of death) in Bhagwat Multispeciality Hospital in Dapoli, Maharashtra. He completed his schooling in a Marathi medium school called Vamanrao Muranjan High School (now Vamanrao Muranjan Secondary School and Junior College) in Mulund, Mumbai. He later studied photography at JJ School of Art and L.S.Raheja School of Arts in Mumbai.
Childhood picture of Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 9″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: black
Nitin Chandrakant Desai with Akshay Kumar
Family
parents and siblings
His father’s name is Chandrakant Ganpat Desai. His mother’s name is Meena Chandrakant Desai. He is a film producer. He had a brother and a sister. His sister’s name is Vaishali.
An old picture of Nitin Chandrakant Desai with his parents and siblings
wife and children
She was married to Naina Nitin Desai. He is a film producer. He is survived by a son and a daughter. His daughter, Mansi Desai, is a production coordinator at Mold3D.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai with his wife and children
Religion
He followed Hindu religion.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai performing Yagya in his studio
livelihood
Art Director and Production Designer
Nitin Chandrakant Desai started his career by joining Film City Studios, Mumbai in May 1987, where he worked from taking 2-D still photos to working in the 3-D area of art direction. The same year, he worked as the fourth assistant to renowned art director Nitish Roy in the television film ‘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 for the first 25 episodes of the TV series ‘Chanakya’ and from the 26th episode onwards, he took over as an independent art director.
Poster of TV series ‘Chanakya’
In 1993, he debuted in the film industry as an art director with the film ‘Bhoocamp’. However, he gained recognition after working in the film ‘1942: A Love Story’ (1944). In 2008, he built two sets for the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, including a separate set for the ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ scene. He has worked as an art director and production designer in many blockbuster films including ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999), ‘Lagaan’ (2001), ‘Devdas’ (2002), ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ (2006). Did. ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Lakshya’ (2007).
Poster of the movie ‘Lagaan’
Apart from films and TV series, he also worked as a production designer for the Hindi-language web series ‘Paurashpur’ (2020), which premiered on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji.
the creator
Nitin Chandrakant Desai became a film producer in 2003 with the devotional film ‘Desh Devi Maa Ashapura’. In 2008, he produced the Marathi TV show ‘Raja Shivchhatrapati’ on Star Pravah, which later became one of the super hit shows of that time. , The show was re-telecasted in April 2020 during the lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poster of TV series ‘Raja Shivchhatrapati’
In 2009, he produced the Hindi-language historical drama TV series ‘Chittor Ki Rani Padmini Ka Jauhar’, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television. In 2011, he produced the Marathi language biographical film ‘Balagandharva’. He also directed the film. He later produced a reality TV show ‘Marathi Paul Padhate Pudhe’, which is based on the concept of the show and is similar to ‘America’s Got Talent’. In 2018 he produced the Marathi film ‘Trakbhar Swapna’.
actor
Nitin Chandrakant Desai debuted as an actor with the Hindi TV show ‘Hum Sab Ek Hain’ (1998) on SAB TV. He played his first lead role in the Marathi language film ‘Hello Jai Hind!’ in 2011.
The film ‘Hello Jai Hind!’ poster of
In the same year, he played the role of Lokmanya Tilak in the Marathi language biographical film ‘Balagandharva’.
Controversy
Advertising agencies accused of fraud
In 2018, Rakesh Shinde, owner of Vihang Digital World, had filed a complaint at the Vartak Nagar police station against Desai for non-payment of Rs 51.7 lakh for three months of work. He also alleged that the checks he had received from Desai had either bounced or came from bank accounts that were no longer active. However, in an interview Desai denied the allegations and said that he would take legal action against Shinde for making false allegations against him. He said,
The complainant had made such false allegations earlier also. We will take legal action against him.
Another complaint was reportedly filed against him in the same case. Another complainant, Dev Kate, owner of an advertising agency, has claimed that Desai owes him Rs 1 crore for the work completed.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
Screen Award for Best Art Direction
- In 1994 for ‘1942: A Love Story’
Nitin Chandrakant Desai received Filmfare Award for ‘1942 A Love Story’
- For ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ in 1996
- For ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ in 1999
- For ‘Gandhi, My Father’ in 2008
Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction
- In 1995 for ‘1942: A Love Story’
- For ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ in 1997
National Film Award for Best Art Direction
- ‘Dr.’ Babasaheb Ambedkar’ in 1999 for
- For ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ in 2000
- For ‘Lagaan’ in 2002
Nitin Chandrakant Desai receives National Film Award from APJ Abdul Kalam for ‘Lagaan’
IIFA Best Art Direction Award
- For ‘Jodha Akbar’ in 2009
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Art Direction
- For ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ in 2009
Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
- Nominated for ‘Such a Long Journey’ in 1998
Nitin Chandrakant with his awards
Death
On 2 August 2023, he was found dead in his ND Studio in Karjat, Maharashtra. He reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself. Following his death, media reports emerged stating that Desai’s death was the result of suicide due to severe financial crisis. He had a loan of Rs 180 crore from a finance company named CFM. Desai had taken the loan by mortgaging a total of 42 acres of land and other properties after entering into loan agreements in 2016 and 2018. Later, he found himself unable to repay the loan, which left him with a lot of debt. CFM attempted to recover the loan amount from Desai but failed. As a result, the company assigned Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction to handle the recovery of all outstanding loan accounts. Despite all efforts, Edelweiss also could not achieve the agreed amount. As a last resort, the company used the SARFAESI Act to reclaim the mortgaged land by seizing the property. Subsequently, Edelweiss filed a petition in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCTL) and the court approved the debt recovery process. Media reports from 3 August 2023 indicated that he left an audio suicide message shortly before his demise at 4 am on 2 August 2023. In the message, he had mentioned the names of four persons whose contact numbers were saved in the contact list of his mobile phone.
Facts/General Knowledge
- In 2005, he founded ND Studios, based in Karjat on the outskirts of Mumbai. The studio covers an extensive area of 52 acres (21 ha). However, Reliance Entertainment later acquired a 50 percent stake in the studio for approximately Rs 1.50 billion. The studio is known for its extensive and lavish sets, making it an attractive destination for both domestic and international productions.
- After Reliance Entertainment acquired 50% stake in Big ND Studios, US-based film studio ’20th Century Fox’ signed a 10-year agreement to rent four floors at the studios. Walt Disney also made a deal to shoot at the same studio for 10 weeks.
- On 7 May 2021, a massive fire broke out at ND Studios on the sets of the film ‘Jodha Akbar’, which was preserved by the studio authorities for a tourist attraction. A large part of the film set was damaged by the fire. In an interview, Desai talked about the damage caused by the fire and said,
There were very few people in the studio premises due to the lockdown. By the time the security guards realized it was too late. There is no fault of ours in this, but we had to see our dream burn before our eyes.”
- In 2022, a four-day mega event ‘Maha-Utsav’ organized at Desai’s ND Studios from April 28 to May 1, celebrating the rich culture, art, tradition, flavor and vibrant colors of Maharashtra in honor of the 62nd anniversary of the state I went. Build.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai at Maha-Utsav at ND Studio
- In April 2022, Nitin Chandrakant Desai transformed his ND Studio into a Bollywood theme park, featuring seven different film sets and lots of fun activities to enjoy. The park was opened to the public in April 2022, where they can come and recreate famous scenes from Bollywood movies and be a part of the iconic Bollywood setup. In an interview, Desai talked about creating a Bollywood theme park and said,
Whenever I saw people running for autographs of film stars or trying to walk, talk or sing like them, I felt that there should be some such facility in which people could live their dreams, at least for a while. Get a chance to turn it into reality. This idea inspired me to develop this theme park.
- Apart from ND Studio, he is associated with a few more companies including KND Investments and Finance Pvt. Ltd. Ltd., ND Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Namaskar Art Studio Pvt. Ltd., and ND S Art World Pvt. Ltd.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn