Award-winning Bollywood director found dead in studio as police launch probe
Award-winning Bollywood director Nitin Desai has been found dead as police launch an enquiry into his death.
The film-maker, 58, was reportedly found by police this morning after being alerted by residents at the Karjat residence in India. Local media say a probe has been launched into Nitin's death with the investigation ongoing.
Nitin was hugely respected in the Bollywood industry, winning the National Award winner for Best Art Direction four times. He had been living in Maharashtra's Raigad district since 2005, where he opened his 52-acre ND Studios to make films, including Farzand and Ajintha. The sets of many shows were also built at the studios, including Jodhaa Akbar and Indian reality TV series Bigg Boss.
Award-winning Bollywood director Nitin Desai has been found dead as police launch an enquiry into his death (@nitinchandrakantdesai/Instagram)
The film-maker, 58, was reportedly found by police (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Reacting to the news of his tragic death, the director's close friend Vinod Tawde told Hindustan Times: "I used to often speak with him. It's very sad to hear about his death. I spoke to him the day before." Director Ashutosh Gowariker, who worked with Nitin on films, including projects like Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar, told publication, Pinkvilla he was: "Stunned. Shocked. No words. On the way to ND Studios, Karjat."
Film-maker Ketan Mehta too expressed shock at his friend's passing. He said: "I have heard about his demise and I am shocked. We worked together on quite a few films Aar Ya Paar, Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India, Mangal Pandey… it has been a long association and an incredible talent. I am still shocked."
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The director was one of Bollywood's biggest stars (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Meanwhile, Anees Bazmee, who worked with the late art director in his 1998 Kajol film, recalled fond memories of working with the "genius". He said: "It is so shocking and so sad. I can’t believe that this has happened. We have worked together on Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. The plane set that he had created, you should have come and seen that set – how he created it. He was a genius."
Most known for his work in Marathi and Hindi Films, Nitin started out his his career as an assistant art director on television drama Tamas (1987). He then made a name for himself as a director with a career that spanned more than 30 years.
In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India. He also won three prestigious Filmfare Best Art Direction Awards.
The star was also behind some iconic sets of films including Sanjay Dutt’s Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). He last worked as an art director in Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2019 film Panipat.
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