As per his wishes, art director Nitin Desai’s last rites were performed at the helipad at his studio in Karjat, on Friday. Desai was given a 21-gun salute by the Raigad police as per the instructions of CM Eknath Shinde. Actor Aamir Khan, directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowarikar and actress Sonali Kulkarni were the only celebrities spotted at the funeral.

Some other artistes from the Marathi film industry attended the funeral. However, no other associate of his from Bollywood attended it. Desai died by suicide at his studio on Wednesday morning. His funeral was arranged on Friday as his son and son-in-law were to arrive from the USA. Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar paid their respects to Desai at JJ Hospital on Friday morning. After that the mortal remains were taken to N D Studio, Karjat.

From 1 pm, the body was kept at the Agra fort set that was used in the movie Jodhaa Akbar for people to pay their last respects. Besides the actors mentioned, no other Bollywood stars came to pay their respects. “Dada (Nitin Desai) gave stars red carpet treatment. He never thought twice before fulfilling their wishes, be it about food or any other luxury,” said a close associate of Desai on condition of anonymity.

“Dada always remained a close friend to many stars. We had expected most of Bollywood to come, but the undeclared boycott of him continued even after his death,” he added.