Sanjay Leela Bhansali (L). Aamir Khan (R)

Mumbai:

The final rites of the National Award-winning artwork director Nitin Desai have been held on Friday at his studio in Karjat within the presence of members of the family and colleagues. The 57-year-old, recognized for designing the units of movies corresponding to Lagaan, Jodhaa Akbar, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and the favored TV quiz present Kaun Banega Crorepati, was discovered useless on the premises of his studio at Karjat in Raigad district on Wednesday morning.

The final rites have been carried out by Desai’s son.

Superstar Aamir Khan, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, Sonali Kulkarni, Madhur Bhandarkar, Marathi actor Subodh Bhave, amongst others visited ND Studios to pay their final respects.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar mentioned he’s disheartened with the passing away of Desai, whose work, he believes shall be remembered perpetually.

“It was very sad. It’s unfortunate that he is not with us. I can’t believe this news. It was shocking. He has always supported all kinds of films, big, small, regional. He elevated things for art directors. He will always be remembered for his great body of work,” the filmmaker who labored with Desai on movies like Traffic Signal, Fashion, Jail, and Indu Sarkar, advised PTI.

Earlier within the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar paid their final respects to Desai at JJ Hospital in South Mumbai, the place his autopsy was carried out.

As per the autopsy report, the demise was on account of hanging, mentioned Somnath Gharge, Raigad superintendent of police.

The physique was saved on the hospital and was handed over to Desai’s household on Friday morning, from there it was taken to ND Studios for the funeral. Desai’s firm had defaulted on a Rs 252 crore mortgage compensation to collectors and the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal had initiated insolvency proceedings towards it.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)