What happened the night before Nitin Desai's death, eyewitness reveals final moments

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: August 3, 2023 12:59 PM2023-08-03T12:59:56+5:302023-08-03T12:59:56+5:30

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Popular art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai was found dead in his studio in Karjat, in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, police said on Wednesday. According to police, Desai’s body was found hanging at his ND studio, some 80 km outside Mumbai.

A report by Dainik Bhaskar suggests, Desai was in his studio till two days before suicide. Up until Tuesday he discussed a project with his team. He went to his room around 10 PM on Tuesday and did not come out for a long time.

Since morning he did not pick up anyone's call, so the staff informed the officials of ND Studio. His bodyguard and others knocked on the door. When seen from the window, Desai's body was found hanging from the ceiling fan. Later the police were informed. Desai’s manager revealed that he hanged himself at 3.30 AM.

, Maharashtra MLA Mahesh Baldi said that Desai was under financial strain. "He was under financial stress and this could be the reason for suicide," Baldi said.

The postmortem reports reveal that the cause of death is due to hanging, as per Raigad police. A team of four doctors conducted it. The staff claimed that Desai reached Mumbai airport from Delhi on Tuesday midnight. He reached ND Studio in Karjat around 2.30 am.

While there are no reports of foul play, it has been learned that police found a recorded voice message left by Desai in which he is understood to have mentioned four persons. However, the Khalapur police refused to share the details as it was given for forensic investigation.. Desai was debt-ridden and even the financer had reportedly approached the district administration for the attachment of the studio.

According to a report by Times Now, Mayur Dongre, a witness who was present at the scene, said Nitin sent a voice message to a member of his studio staff with whom he also maintained a close relationship. Dongre was also transparent with regard to the contents of the voicemail.

The source told the entertainment portal that at night, on the sets of Marathi Pavool Padte Pudhe, Studio number 10, he drew a bow and arrow with sutali (rassi), placed a ladder on the bow and arrow, and hung himself.

The source continued by saying that Nitin also mentioned not taking his ND Studios away from him in the recording. In addition to that, he said that Studio No. 10 would be the location of his final rites. Nitin went on to work on some of the most successful Bollywood films alongside some of the most famous filmmakers in the entertainment industry. In films such as Lagaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Jodha Akbar, and Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo, he worked his art-directing magic to create a magical experience for the audience.