Nitin Chandrakant Desai is an Indian art director, production designer, actor and producer. He is known for his exceptional sets and visual aesthetics, which have been featured in many Bollywood films including ‘Lagaan’ (2001), ‘Devdas’ (2002), ‘Swades’ (2004), ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ (2008) and ‘Panipat’ (2019).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Nitin Chandrakant Desai was born on Friday 6 August 1965 (age 57; as of 2022) at Bhagwat Multi-Speciality Hospital, Dapoli, Maharashtra. He completed his schooling from a Marathi medium school named Vamanrao Muranjan High School (now Vamanrao Muranjan Madhyamik Vidyalaya and Junior College) in Mulund, Mumbai. Later studied photography at JJ School of Art and LSRaheja School of Art, Mumbai.
Childhood photo of Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 9″
Hair color: salt and pepper
Eye Color: Black
Nitin Chandrakant Desai with Akshay Kumar
family
parents and siblings
Father’s name is Chandrakant Ganpat Desai. His mother’s name is Meena Chandrakant Desai. He is a film producer. He has a brother and a sister. His sister’s name is Vaishali.
Old photograph of Nitin Chandrakant Desai with his parents and siblings
wife and children
Naina is married to Nitin Desai. He is a film producer. He has 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 follows Hinduism.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai performs Yagya in his studio
Address
He lives at H. no. at 1501, Daffodils Sainath Gardens, Navghar Road, Tata Colony, Mulund (E), Mumbai (400 081).
Career
Art director and production designer
Nitin Chandrakant Desai began his career by joining Film City Studios in Mumbai in May 1987, where he quickly transitioned from 2-D photography to art direction in 3-D. In the same year, he worked as the fourth assistant to famous art director Nitish Roy in the television movie 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 on Chanakya for the first 25 episodes, and from episode 26 onwards, he took over as independent art director.
“Chanakya” serial poster
In 1993, he made his debut in the film industry as an art director with the film ‘Bhookamp;’ However, he gained recognition after working on the film 1942: A Love Story (1944). In 2008, he designed two sets for the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, including a different set of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’. He has worked as art director and production designer for various blockbuster films including ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999), ‘Lagaan’ (2001), ‘Devdas’ (2002), ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ (2006) and ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal’ (2007).
Poster of the movie “Lagan”.
Apart from films and serials, he has also worked as a production designer for the Hindi web series ‘Paurashpur’ (2020), which premiered on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji.
Producer
Nitin Chandrakant Desai turned film producer in 2003 with the devotional film ‘Desh Devi Maa Ashapura’. In 2008, he created the Marathi TV show ‘Raja Shivchatrapati’ on Star Pravah, which later became one of the super hit shows of that time. The show was rebroadcast in April 2020 during a lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poster of the TV series “Raja Shivchatrapati”.
In 2009, he produced the Hindi-language historical drama television series Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television. In 2011, he produced the Marathi-language biographical film “Balgandharva”. He was also the director of the film. He later created a reality TV show ‘Marathi Paul Padte Pudhe’ based on the concept of a show similar to ‘America’s Got Talent’. In 2018, he produced the Marathi film “Truckbhar Swapna”.
Beautiful
Nitin Chandrakant Desai made his debut as an actor in the Hindi television show Hum Sab Ek Hain (1998) on SAB TV. She made her first lead role in the Marathi language film ‘Hello Jai Hind!’ in 2011.
Movie Poster “Hello Jai Hind!”
In the same year, he played the role of Lokmanya Tilak in the Marathi language biopic Balgandharva.
Confrontation
In the alleged deception of advertising agencies
In 2018, Rakesh Shinde, owner of Vihang Digital World, filed a complaint against Desai at the Vartak Nagar police station for not paying him Rs 51.7 lakh for three months. He also claimed that the checks he received from Desai were either cashed or 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. She said,
The complainant has made such false allegations before. We will take legal measures against him.”
According to reports, there was another complaint against him in the same case. Another complainant, Dev Kate, owner of an advertising agency, claimed that Desai owed him Rs 1 crore for work completed.
Awards, honors, achievements
Screen Award for Best Art Direction
- “1942: A Love Story” in 1994
Nitin Chandrakant Desai wins Filmfare Award for ‘1942 A Love Story’
- For “Khamoshi: The Musical” in 1996
- For “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” in 1999
- “Gandhi, My Father” in 2008
Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction
- “1942: A Love Story” in 1995
- For “Khamoshi: The Musical” in 1997
National Film Award for Best Art Direction
- For ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’ in 1999
- for “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” in 2000
- For “Lagan” in 2002
Nitin Chandrakant Desai received the National Film Award for ‘Lagaan’ from APJ Abdul Kalam
IIFA Best Art Direction Award
- “Jodha for Akbar” in 2009
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Art Direction
- for “Harishchandrachi Factory” in 2009
Genie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
- Nominated for “Such a Long Journey” in 1998
Nitin Chandrakant with his awards
Facts/Trivia
- In 2005, he founded ND Studios, located in Karjat, a suburb of Mumbai. The studio covers an area of 52 hectares (21 acres). However, Reliance Entertainment later acquired 50 percent of the studio for around Rs 1.50 billion. The studio is known for its expansive and grandiose sets, making it an attractive location for both domestic and international productions.
- After Reliance Entertainment acquired 50% of Big ND Studio, US-based film studio ’20th Century Fox’ signed a 10-year lease agreement for four floors of the studio. Walt Disney also signed a contract to shoot at the same studio for 10 weeks.
- On 7 May 2021, a massive fire broke out at ND Studio on the set of Jodha Akbar, which the studio authorities had reserved for a tourist attraction. The fire damaged a large part of the set. In an interview, Desai spoke about the loss caused by the fire and said:
Due to the lockdown, there were almost no people in the studio area. By the time the security guards realized, it was too late. Isme toh hamari koi galti nahi hai, lekin hamare aankhon ke saamne hamara sapna jalta dekhna pada”.
- In 2022, a four-day mega event ‘Maha-Utsav’ was held at Desai’s ND Studios from April 28 to May 1, celebrating the rich culture, art, tradition, taste and vibrant colors of Maharashtra to mark the 62nd anniversary of the state’s formation.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai at Maha-Utsav at ND Studio
- In April 2022, Nitin Chandrakant Desai transformed his ND studio into a Bollywood theme park consisting of seven different movie sets and lots of fun activities. The park opened to the public in April 2022, where they can come and recreate famous scenes from Bollywood movies and be part of the iconic Bollywood ensemble. In an interview, Desai talked about creating a Bollywood theme park and said:
When I saw people rushing to get movie stars’ autographs or try to walk, talk or sing like them, I felt that there must be a way where people could make their dreams come true, at least for a little while. This thought led me to develop this theme park. ”
- Apart from ND Studio, he is associated with several other companies including KND Investments and Finance Pvt. Ltd., ND Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Namaskaar Art Studios Pvt. Ltd. and ND S Art World Pvt. Ltd.
Categories: Bollywood
Source: dienchau2.edu.vn
