Noted Bollywood production designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai known for his work for Him Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Lagaan was found dead in his studio in Maharashtra's Raigad district. Desai died by suicide at the age of 58. According to police sources, Desai was found hanging at his studio in Karjat.
Born on January 25, 1965, in Dapoli, Maharashtra, Desai began his career as an assistant art director for the television films and serials. He made his Bollywood debut as an art director with the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). His other successful Bollywood films include Lagaan (2001), Devdas (2002), Swades (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015).
He received four National Film Awards for Best Art Direction and three Filmfare Best Art Direction Awards. In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India. During his career spanning 20 years, Nitin has worked with directors like Ashutosh Gowarikar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
In 2005, he opened his ND Studios spread over 52 acres at Karjat, near Mumbai, which has since hosted movies like Jodha Akbar, Traffic Signal and also Color's reality show Bigg Boss. Its very unfortunate to see a highly talented technician lost his life in this manner. A probe into Desai's death from all angles is currently underway said officials.