Remo D’Souza is one of the most successful and renowned choreographers in the Bollywood industry. The Bollywood actor he is also a film director and producer, who has made some of the most popular dance-based films in India.
He is known for his innovative and creative style of choreography, which blends various dance forms and genres. He has worked with some of the biggest stars of Bollywood, such as Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit, and Shah Rukh Khan.
He has also been a judge and mentor on several dance reality shows, such as Dance India Dance, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, and Dance Plus. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his work, both as a choreographer and a director. He is also a role model for many aspiring dancers and choreographers in India.
In this blog post, we will explore the life and career of Remo D’Souza, from his humble beginnings to his rise to stardom. We will also look at some of his best films, his achievements, his controversies, and some interesting facts about him. If you are a fan of Remo D’Souza, or want to know more about him, then this blog post is for you.
Early Life and Upbringing
Remo D’Souza was born as Ramesh Gopi Nair on 2 April 1974, in Bangalore, Karnataka. His father, Gopi Nair, was a chef in the Indian Air Force, and his mother, Madhaviyamma, was a housewife. He has an elder brother, Ganesh, and four sisters. He belongs to a Hindu family, but later converted to Christianity and changed his name to Remo D’Souza.
Remo grew up in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where he completed his schooling at the Air Force School. He was an athletic child and won prizes in the 100 meter race. He was not interested in studies, and realized that he wanted to pursue a career in dance. He was inspired by Michael Jackson, and learned to dance by watching his videos. He did not receive any formal training in dance, and developed his own style by experimenting and improvising.
Remo moved to Mumbai at the age of 19, to chase his dream of becoming a dancer. He faced many hardships and struggles in the initial years, as he had no contacts or connections in the industry. He started giving dance classes at Churni Road, under the name of ‘Super Brats’.
He had only four students in the beginning, and he even spent some nights at Bandra Station, due to lack of money. He also worked as a background dancer in some films and music videos, to earn some income.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ramesh Gopi Nair |
| Nickname | Remo |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Remo D’Souza |
| Date of Birth | 2 April 1974 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 49 years |
| Religion | Christianity (converted from Hinduism) |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Bengaluru, India |
| Hometown | Jamnagar, Gujarat, India |
| Current Address | Andheri West, Mumbai |
| Education Qualification | 12th standard |
| Hobbies and Interests | Dancing |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English, Malayalam |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Remo D’Souza |
| IMDb Profile link | Remo D’Souza |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Slim |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 38 – 30 – 12 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5’ 7″, 170 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 60 kg, 132 lbs |
| Chest | 38 inches |
| Waist | 30 inches |
| Biceps | 12 inches |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Hairstyle | Short and spiky |
| Distinctive Features | Mole on the right cheek |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Remo D’Souza is married to Lizelle Watkins, an Anglo-Indian from Mumbai. Lizelle is a costume designer, who has worked on various shows and films. They met in 1995, when Remo was working as an assistant choreographer for the film ‘Rangeela’. They fell in love and got married in 1999. They have two sons, Dhruv and Gabriel, who are also interested in dance and music.
Remo and Lizelle share a strong bond and support each other in their professional and personal lives. Lizelle often collaborates with Remo and assists him in his projects. They also run a dance academy together, called ‘Remo Dance Institute’. They are a happy and loving family, who reside in Andheri West, Mumbai.
Remo is also close to his parents, siblings, and friends. He often visits his hometown in Kerala, and celebrates festivals and occasions with his family. He is also friends with many celebrities and colleagues in the industry, such as Terence Lewis, Geeta Kapur, Prabhu Deva, Varun Dhawan, and Shraddha Kapoor. He is known for his humble and down-to-earth personality, and his generosity and kindness towards others.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Lizelle D’Souza (costume designer) |
| Father | Gopi Nair (air force officer) |
| Mother | Madhavi Amma (housewife) |
| Children | Dhruv D’Souza and Gabriel D’Souza (sons) |
| Siblings | Ganesh Gopi (elder brother), 3 younger sisters |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | N/A |
| Significant Relationships | Salman Khan (friend and collaborator), Prabhu Deva (mentor and co-star) |
Rise to Stardom
Remo D’Souza’s career in the film industry began as a background dancer. His breakthrough came in 1995 when he worked as an assistant choreographer with Ahmed Khan for the Bollywood film ‘Rangeela’.
He made his directorial debut with the comedy film F.A.L.T.U, which received a positive response from critics.
Remo D’Souza – Debut Film – Aflatoon (1997)
Remo D’Souza – Successful Film – ABCD 2 (2015)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Over the course of his career spanning more than 25 years, D’Souza has choreographed more than 100 films. He is best known for his work in films such as Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Bajirao Mastani (2015).
Additionally, he has been a judge on the dance reality show Dance Plus for seven consecutive seasons.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Director, Choreographer |
| Debut Film | Aflatoon (1997, as an actor), F.A.L.T.U (2011, as a director) |
| Notable Roles | Raghav in ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013), ABCD 2 (2015), and Street Dancer 3D (2020) |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Street Dancer 3D (2020), Time to Dance (2021) |
| Upcoming Films | Flying Jatt 2 (2022) |
| Popular Television Series | Dance India Dance (2009-2012), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2014-2016), Dance Plus (2015-2020) |
| Awards and Achievements | National Film Award for Best Choreography for Bajirao Mastani (2015), Screen Award for Best Choreography for Badtameez Dil (2013), Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for Badtameez Dil (2013) |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Skechers, Puma, Reebok, Pepsi, Cadbury, Lays |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Being Human Foundation, Smile Foundation, CRY, PETA |
| Professional Associations | Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association |
| Training and Education | Self-taught dancer, learned from watching Michael Jackson’s videos |
| Production Company | Remo D’Souza Entertainment |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013), ABCD 2 (2015), Race 3 (2018) |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Bajirao Mastani (2015), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Rock On!! (2008) |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 100 crore, $13.5 million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 10 crore, $1.35 million |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 50 lakh, $67,000 |
| Sponsorship Deals | Skechers, Puma, Reebok, Pepsi, Cadbury, Lays |
| Business Ventures | Remo D’Souza Entertainment, Remo’s Dance Academy, Remo’s Dance Plus |
| Investments | Mutual funds, stocks, bonds |
| Real Estate Holdings | Bungalow in Andheri West, Mumbai, Farmhouse in Lonavala, Maharashtra |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | Rolex watch, diamond ring, gold chain |
| Cars Collection | Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLS |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan |
| Favorite Actress | Madhuri Dixit |
| Favorite Film | ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013) |
| Favorite Music Bands | Coldplay, Maroon 5, One Direction |
| Favorite Sport | Cricket |
| Favorite Books | The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne |
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Chicken biryani, pizza, chocolate cake |
| Things s/he like | Dancing, traveling, watching movies |
| Things s/he dislike | Smoking, drinking |
Top 5 Best Films – Remo D’Souza
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | 2013 | Choreographer |
| Bajirao Mastani | 2015 | Choreographer |
| ABCD: Any Body Can Dance | 2013 | Director |
| F.A.L.T.U | 2011 | Director |
| Race 3 | 2018 | Director |
Controversies – Remo D’Souza
- Remo D’Souza’s role with Shah Rukh Khan was chopped from Subhash Ghai’s Pardes.
- Salman Khan reportedly fired Remo D’Souza after his comments on ‘Race 3’.
Interesting Facts – Remo D’Souza
- Remo D’Souza’s actual name is Ramesh Gopi.
- He got converted to Christianity.
- During his school days, he was interested in sports.
- He was a champion in the 100-meter sprint.
- He assisted Ahmed Khan in Rangeela film.
- He even did a minor role in that film.
This blog post provides a comprehensive look at the life and career of Remo D’Souza, highlighting his early life, personal life, rise to stardom, career highlights, top films, controversies, and interesting facts. His journey serves as an inspiration for many aspiring artists in the Indian film industry.
