Renowned Bollywood art director known for films like ‘Lagaan’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Devdas’ honoured posthumously at Oscars 2024

Late Bollywood art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai was honored at the 96th Academy Awards with an emotional tribute during a segment called ‘In Memoriam’ alongside other personalities such as Tina Turner, Matthew Perry, and others. 

The Oscars 2024 took place on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. 

During the ceremony, Nitin Desai was recognized by his full name, Nitin Chandrakant Desai with a clip from one of his films playing in the background alongside his photo, reported the NDTV. Desai has won numerous accolades, including three Filmfare Awards for Best Art Direction and four National Film Awards for Best Art Direction.

Desai, during his extensive career spanning 20 years, worked with notable directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

In 2005, he opened his ND Studios spread over 52 acres at Karjat, near Mumbai, which has since hosted movies like 'Jodha Akbar', 'Traffic Signal' and also Color's reality show 'Bigg Boss', reported India Today. The last big-budget film where he was roped in as the art director was ‘Panipat’ and, before that, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’.

Desai allegedly died by suicide on August 2, last year and his body was found at his Karjat studio.

Many people from the industry acknowledged Desai’s mention at the Oscars including Film Critic Anupama Chopra who took to X and wrote, “Nitin Desai in the In Memorium segment - wonderful to have his monumental work recognized internationally.”

Director Milap Milan Zaveri, known for his films such as Satyameva Jayate and Marjaavaan, also posted on X, saying, "The Oscars remembers Nitin Desai." 

Apart from Desai, South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, also found a mention in the segment who died by suicide on December 27. 

The Oscars also paid tribute to a diverse array of talents, including Friends star Matthew Perry famously known as Chandler from the famous sitcom, singer Harry Belafonte, actor Paul Reubens, Melinda Dillon, Norman Jewison, Piper Laurie, Ryan O'Neal, Julian Sands, Carl Weathers, Treat Williams and Burt Young among others.