Mumbai: Nitin Desai's sprawling N D Studios outside Mumbai where movies like Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Devdas', Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Jodhaa Akbar' and several Salman Khan starrers were filmed, was hit hard by two factors: subsidies offered in other states which began to draw film-makers away, and the emergence of OTT streaming services which banked on content shot on real locations rather than sets.

Heads of film trade associations like CINTAA and FWICE say film studios are seeing mixed fortunes at present. Birendra Nath Tiwari, president of FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) said, "I am shocked to hear of my good friend's death. Desai had invited me to his daughter's wedding recently, but I was unable to go. I learnt about his financial problems today. He had 150-200 employees to care for, how does one pay salaries, electricity bills and utility charges if studios are not occupied. Film studios by and large are falling on hard times. Moviegoers have declined, so fewer films are being made."

Tiwari added, "N D Studios is located in faraway Karjat, so units are required to travel the distance, and stay there till they complete their work. Instead filmmakers prefer to travel out of Maharashtra to other states like Uttarakhand, J&K, MP and Chhattisgarh which offer vast subsidies up to Rs 2.5 crore. OTT units shoot outdoors so they do not hire studios."

Amit Behl, general secretary of CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes Association) knew Desai for almost 30 years since the time the technician designed the sets for the serial 'Aa rohan' (1994-95). Behl said, "I stayed in ND Studio when 'Jhansi Ki Rani' was filmed there in 2011, and then during 'Asoka' in 2015-16. Its infrastructure had progressed greatly by then. I never saw it empty. TV serials, ads were shot there regularly." Behl said OTT, however, was not a source of revenue for studios “since these 6-8 episode shows are shot on location.”

“Most studios therefore depend on the television industry which is still booming. ND Studio was a favourite of certain production houses but these later built their own studios in Umbergaon and Amgaon,” added Behl. “And many film units began to opt for other states which offer subsidies. But studios that innovate and offer good services and amenities are still faring well."

Senior producer and exhibitor Manoj Desai, who is executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy G-7 Multiplex in Bandra, offered insight into how new technologies are rendering existing infrastructure redundant. He said, "I am distressed to hear of Nitin Desai's suicide. He was a very good friend. He owned two or three editing studios. But now, editing can be done right at the time of shooting. There is no need to do dubbing, no need to visit an editing studio. One simply records on a collar mic and edits it on the spot. And the task is done."