A Rs 180-crore loan drove art director Nitin Desai to suicide

Hindi cinema’s renowned art director Nitin Desai, who designed the sets of films like Lagaan, Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, died by suicide in his studio in Khalapur, Raigarh near Karjat, Maharashtra on August 2.

As per reports, Desai was under a lot of stress due to financial issues.

Mahesh Baldi, an independent MLA from Uran area in which Desai’s studio is located, said that Desai was facing a financial crunch as his studio wasn’t functioning and there were no shoots happening.

Mahesh told PTI, “He was in deep financial trouble. I met him two or three months ago where he spoke about his financial problems. He said that the ND Studio wasn’t functioning and shoots were not happening. The financial crisis was the reason that he took this step.”

What were the financial issues?

Nitin Desai had defaulted on a loan of Rs 180 crore and a bankruptcy court had admitted an insolvency petition against his company last week.

• Desai's company ND Art World Pvt Ltd borrowed Rs 180 crore through two loans from ECL Finance in 2016 and 2018. Troubles with repayment began in January 2020 and since then, Desai had been facing financial woes.
• According to police, an audio clip has been recovered from Desai's mobile phone which mentions 4 people. The phone has been sent for forensic examination and the data will be recovered from his phone.

It has also emerged that the company from where Desai took the loan had taken the legal route to confiscate Desai's property.

In this connection, a letter was also written to the Raigarh Collector to take over part of Desai's ND Property in Karjat.

Further investigation into the case is on.

Film fraternity shocked

Many film celebrities who have worked with Desai expressed their shock over his demise.

Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to pay his last respects to Desai. The actor even postponed the release of the trailer of his next movie, OMG 2.

“Unbelievably sad to know about the demise of Nitin Desai. He was a stalwart in production design and such a big part of our cinema fraternity. He worked on so many of my films... this is a huge loss. Out of respect, we are not releasing the OMG 2 trailer today. Will launch it tomorrow at 11 am. Om Shanti.” 

Unbelievably sad to know about the demise of Nitin Desai. He was a stalwart in production design and such a big part of our cinema fraternity. He worked on so many of my films… this is a huge loss. Out of respect, we are not releasing the OMG 2 trailer today. Will launch it…

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 2, 2023

Apart from Akshay Kumar, several other celebs also paid their condolences.

Here are a few reactions:

1. Vivek Agnihotri: 

I am heartbroken and sad beyond control to learn about my dearest friend Nitin Desai’s death. A legendary Production designer, a visionary who made ND Studio… Nitin not only loved Pallavi and I, he always guided me even in films we didn’t do together. Why Nitin, why?
ॐ शांति। pic.twitter.com/k843azk3x9

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 2, 2023

2. Hema Malini:

Shocking news this morning - Art Director Nitin Desai is no more. Such a warm human being, associated with many of my projects and ballets, his passing is a terrible loss to the film industry. May he find peace wherever he is🙏 pic.twitter.com/STNsz6Kwr8

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) August 2, 2023

3. Madhur Bhandarkar:

#WATCH | Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar remembers art director Nitin Chanderkant Desai

" I worked with him in four films -Traffic Signal, Fashion, Indu Sarkar and Jail. He was a talented art director. His contribution to the Indian film industry will always be remembered. Heartful… pic.twitter.com/twiqNdQnGw

— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2023

Desai's career and legacy

Desai started his career in 1987 with the Govind Nihalani-directed TV show Tamas, as assistant to Nitish Roy. After that, he worked on the TV series Kabir for nearly five years, the series Chanakya for the first 25 episodes and then took over independently from the 26th episode.

However, it was Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1942: A Love Story that brought him into the limelight.

After that, he went on to work as an art director in several movies like Parinda, Khamoshi, Maachis, Baadshah, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Raju Chacha. 

He crafted two sets for the 2008 movie, Slumdog Millionaire. He also crafted the set of the iconic Kaun Banega Crorepati, and the sets of the TV serial Taj Mahal.

In 2003, he also produced a movie, Desh, Devi Maa Ashapura.

Anyone could walk into his studio

The four-time National award-winning director kept his ND Studio in Karjat open for tourists to have a look at. 

He established this studio in 2005. Covering an expansive area of 52 acres (21 hectares), the studio attracted even Reliance Entertainment, which had acquired a 50% stake in the company.