Nitin Chandrakant Desai, the set designer behind Oscar-winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ has died aged 58

Desai was a highly regarded set designer in Bollywood for his works on “Jodhaa Akbar” and “Lagaan.”
Benjamin Jackson
By Benjamin Jackson
2nd Aug 2023, 3:58pm

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Bollywood is in mourning today as celebrated set designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai has died aged 58, ETimes confirmed earlier today. Desai was found dead in his studio in Karjat, a city near Mumbai, India, by colleagues who worked for him at ND Studios - there is no suspicion of foul play regarding his death. 

Desai was a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, known for his exceptional work in creating elaborate and visually stunning sets for movies. Throughout his career, Nitin Desai worked on numerous Bollywood films and Marathi films, leaving a mark with his creativity and artistic vision. 

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He was highly regarded for his ability to design and build magnificent sets that added grandeur and authenticity to the movies he worked on, including "Lagaan," which received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as "Jodhaa Akbar," "Devdas," and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam."

Indian producer, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra (L), author Mandar Joshi (2L), art director Nitin Desai (2R) and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan (R) on August 8, 2011 pose during the unveiling ceremony of the Marathi language book on art director Nitin Desai titled "Adhunik Yugacha Vishwakrma" written by Mandar Joshi in Mumbai. (Photo: STRDEL/AFP via Getty Images)Indian producer, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra (L), author Mandar Joshi (2L), art director Nitin Desai (2R) and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan (R) on August 8, 2011 pose during the unveiling ceremony of the Marathi language book on art director Nitin Desai titled "Adhunik Yugacha Vishwakrma" written by Mandar Joshi in Mumbai. (Photo: STRDEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Indian producer, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra (L), author Mandar Joshi (2L), art director Nitin Desai (2R) and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan (R) on August 8, 2011 pose during the unveiling ceremony of the Marathi language book on art director Nitin Desai titled "Adhunik Yugacha Vishwakrma" written by Mandar Joshi in Mumbai. (Photo: STRDEL/AFP via Getty Images)

But for Western audiences, he will be known for his set design for Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning feature, “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008, creating both the isolating confines of the game show studio Jamal (played by Dev Patel) found himself in coupled with some of the incredible moments when the character recalled aspects of his life.

In addition to his work in films, Nitin Desai also served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council and held a position in the National Film Development Corporation of India.

Related topics:IndiaMumbaiWestern

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