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IN PHOTOS: 'Desai bonded well with local villagers, gave jobs to them at his studio'

Updated On: 02 August, 2023 09:48 PM IST | Anagha Sawant

When Bollywood art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai decided to set up his studio near Karjat, 60 km from Mumbai, he ensured that local youths got jobs at the facility (Pic/Ashish Raje)  

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Desai, 57, was found dead at his studio, , which stands on 42 acres of land at Chowk village in Karjat (Pic/Ashish Raje)
Desai, 57, was found dead at his studio, , which stands on 42 acres of land at Chowk village in Karjat (Pic/Ashish Raje)
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Locals remember him as someone who bonded easily with them. "He gave jobs to youths from Chowk, Hatnoli, Wavarle and Bhilavale villages when the studio came up. We called him 'Dada' (elder brother)," said Sachin Mate, an activist  

Locals remember him as someone who bonded easily with them. "He gave jobs to youths from Chowk, Hatnoli, Wavarle and Bhilavale villages when the studio came up. We called him 'Dada' (elder brother)," said Sachin Mate, an activist

 

03
The famous art director who worked for Bollywood hits such as "Jodhaa Akbar" and "Lagaan" would regularly interact with locals as he roamed around the area, Mate said  

The famous art director who worked for Bollywood hits such as "Jodhaa Akbar" and "Lagaan" would regularly interact with locals as he roamed around the area, Mate said

 

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A contractor who used to work at Desai's studio said, "He was a very good human being. He supported me financially for my sister's marriage in 2013"  

A contractor who used to work at Desai's studio said, "He was a very good human being. He supported me financially for my sister's marriage in 2013"

 

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For the last few months the studio was facing financial problems as film shoots had almost stopped  

For the last few months the studio was facing financial problems as film shoots had almost stopped

 

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Desai was frustrated as some vested interests in Bollywood were reportedly discouraging producers from hiring his studio, claimed Jitendra Patil, a local leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena while speaking to the media  

Desai was frustrated as some vested interests in Bollywood were reportedly discouraging producers from hiring his studio, claimed Jitendra Patil, a local leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena while speaking to the media

 

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