How Art Director Nitin Desai’s Midas Touch Made The Sets Of Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, And More Films Grand
He left a legacy behind.
Set design plays a very important role in the success of the project. While most people always credit the director and the actors for giving them the feel of the film, not many realise that an art director is equally responsible in the process. Nitin Chandrakant Desai was one such prominent art director who gave us some of the grandest sets that are remembered even today. He also established ND Studios located in Karjat which has been home to many popular films and also has been used for Bigg Boss. Take a look at the 6 movies that owe their beautiful sets filled with grandeur to Nitin Desai.
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1. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
Nitin Desai worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on many of his films including this 1999 classic. The grand haveli you see, the never-ending hallways and the decorated staircase bannister are all Desai’s creations that are vivid in the minds of fans even today.
2. Jodha Akbar (2008)
Nitin Desai was known to add a touch of grandeur to the sets he made. If there’s a haveli in a period drama, you know it is a Desai creation, and this Ashutosh Gowarikar film is no different. The sprawling lawns and Akbar’s lavish mansion design are to be credited to Desai for making it all resemble the original.
3. Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Nitin Desai added a Peshawi touch to the havelis in this Bhansali film and it surely reflects. The set was designed as Shaniwar Wada located in Pune.
4. Lagaan (2001)
This 2001 film which is also an Ashutosh Gowariker owes its set design to Nitin Desai. As per an India Today report, Kunaria, located in Kachchh, Gujarat was chosen by Desai to turn into a set for this Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh starrer.
5. Devdas (2002)
Yet another Bhansali film that owes its grand sets to the late Nitin Desai. The deep understanding of structure, space and colour that he resulted in the outstanding sets the audience got to see in this Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan starrer.
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6. 1942: A Love Story (1994)
This Vindhu Vinod Chopra film’s set was also designed by Nitin Desai who did his best in highlighting India’s freedom struggle. As per a Reddiff report, Jackie Shroff also helped financially in building the houses on the sets of this film.
Nitin Desai passed away on August 2 and his body was found on the premises of ND Studios in Karjat. Investigations are on, but it is believed he died by suicide.
First Published: August 02, 2023 12:42 PM
