Remo D'Souza

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Remo D'Souza
D'Souza in June 2021
Born
Ramesh Gopi Nair[1]

(1974-04-02) 2 April 1974 (age 49)[2]
Occupations
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Lizelle D'Souza
(m. 1999)
[3]
Children2

Remo D'Souza (born Ramesh Gopi Nair; 2 April 1974), is an Indian choreographer, film director, and producer based in Mumbai. He is best known for his work in films such as Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Bajirao Mastani (2015). Over the course of his career spanning more than 25 years, D'Souza has choreographed more than 100 films. He is considered the most successful and renowned choreographer in the Bollywood industry and has served as a role model for many Indian choreographers. Additionally, he has been a judge on the dance reality show Dance Plus for seven consecutive seasons.[4]

Early and personal life[edit]

D'Souza hails from Olavakkode, Palakkad, Kerala, born on 2 April 1974, in Bangalore into a Hindu family as Ramesh Gopi Nair to Gopi Nair, a chef in the Indian Air Force, and Madhaviyamma, a housewife. He has an elder brother, Ganesh, and four sisters. During his school days, he was an athlete and won prizes in the 100 meter race.[2]

D'Souza completed his schooling at the Air Force School, Jamnagar, Gujarat. He completed his 12th from there and during his HSC board exam, he realized that he didn't have any interest in studies. He immediately left school and went to Mumbai, but his father wanted him to join the Indian Air Force. Whatever he has learned about dance until now is on his own. He learned to dance by watching movies, music videos, etc. He would rather say Michael Jackson is his guru as he used to copy his steps watching his dance on the television and then choreograph his own steps by adding something extra.[5]

D'Souza is married to Lizelle Watkins[6] (now D'Souza), an Anglo-Indian from Mumbai. After converting to Christianity, he changed his name to Remo D'Souza. Lizelle is a costume designer who has worked on various television shows, designing costumes. The couple has two sons named Dhruv and Gabriel. Currently, D'Souza and his family reside in Andheri West, Mumbai.[7] Lizelle also collaborates with him and assists him in various projects.

On 11 December 2020, D'Souza suffered a heart attack and was admitted[8] to the ICU of Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. Soon, he recovered and got discharged.[9]

Career[edit]

D'Souza is a choreographer in Bollywood films and music videos. He has choreographed a number of films. Remo made his television debut with the dance reality show Dance India Dance (DID) along with choreographer Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor as judges and mentors. They trained 18 contestants in dance form of ballet, acrobatics, mid-air dancing, contemporary, Bollywood and hip-hop. He made his directorial debut with the comedy film F.A.L.T.U, which received a positive response from critics.

Remo's next directorial venture was the coming-of-age 3D dance-based film ABCD: Any Body Can Dance which starring Prabhu Deva, Dharmesh Yelande, Lauren Gottlieb, Salman Yusuff Khan and Punit Pathak. ABCD received positive reviews from critics and the film's soundtrack also received positive response from critics.

In 2015, Remo directed the second installment of the ABCD franchise, titled Disney's ABCD 2. It stars Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, Raghav Juyal, Lauren Gottlieb, Dharmesh Yelande and Punit Pathak, the film explores the career journey of Suresh and Vernon of the "fictitious dance crew" Kings United India, who went on to win the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in San Diego. The film received positive reviews from critics and the film's soundtrack also received a positive response from critics.

Later, he appeared on (season 4–7) of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa with the Indian actress Madhuri Dixit and director Karan Johar. He was also the "super judge" on the prime time dance show Dance Plus on Star Plus, along with host Raghav Juyal and team captains Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, and Punit Pathak.

In 2016, Remo directed A Flying Jatt, It was released on 24 August 2016, which starring Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nathan Jones. The film tells the story of an ordinary man (Shroff) who gains superpowers. The film received mixed reviews from critics and Anupama Chopra from the Hindustan Times gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5 and said "The first half of A Flying Jatt has moments of fun – I loved that despite being a superhero he has a fear of heights, so he flies very close to the ground. But post-interval, laughter takes a back seat.

Later, he judged the (season 2–3) of Dance Plus along with host Raghav Juyal and team captains Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, and Punit Pathak. He then appeared as a judge on the reality show Dance Champions opposite Terence Lewis.

He also directed Race 3 the film featured Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah, Saqib Saleem and Freddy Daruwala. Race 3 was an internationally mounted saga of a family that deals in borderline crime. It was released on 15 June 2018 coinciding with Eid Though the movie received negative reviews, it was a box office success collecting over ₹178.98 crores in India and approximately ₹303 crores worldwide.

D'Souza judged (season 4-5) of Dance Plus along with host Raghav Juyal, Sugandha Mishra (co-host on season 4 and guest in season 5) and team captains Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan (season 4), Suresh Mukund (season 5 and to be continued), Karishma Chawan (season 5 and to be continued), and Punit Pathak.

In 2020, Remo directed the third installment of ABCD Franchise titled ''Street Dancer 3D which retained some of original casts including Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, Raghav Juyal, Dharmesh Yelande, Punit Pathak and added Nora Fatehi , Salman Yusuff Khan and Vartika Jha. The film tells the story of two rival dance groups, despise each other and participate in a dance battle. Later, they decide to join hands for a greater cause. It was released on 24 January 2020 and received positive reviews from critics. The film has a worldwide gross collection of ₹102 crores and the film's soundtrack also received a positive response from critics.

Awards[edit]

Film awards
Year Film Award Category Result Ref.
2004 Tehzeeb Zee Cine Awards Best Choreography Nominated
2011 Enthiran Vijay Awards Best Find of the Year Won
2013 Student of the Year Zee Cine Awards Best Choreography (For the song "Disco Deewane") Nominated
2014 Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Screen Awards Best Choreography (for the song "Badtameez Dil") Won
Zee Cine Awards Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards Won
Producer's Guild Film Awards Won
Best Choreography (for the song "Balam Pichkari") Won
2016 Anybody Can Dance 2 BIG Star Entertainment Awards Most Entertaining Social Film Won
Stardust Awards Best Choreography (for all songs of ABCD 2) Won
Screen Awards Best Choreography (for the song "Sunn Saathiya") Won
Bajirao Mastani 63rd National Film Awards Best Choreography (for the song "Deewani Mastani") Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards Won
Producer's Guild Film Awards Best Choreography (for the song "Pinga") Won
Best Choreography (for the song "Deewani Mastani") Nominated
Zee Cine Awards Nominated
64th Filmfare Awards Nominated
Best Choreography (for the song "Pinga") Nominated
2020 Kalank 65th Filmfare Awards Best Choreography (For the song "Ghar More Pardesiya") Won
Television awards
Year Show Award Category Result Ref.
2013 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Colors Golden Petal Awards Best Non-Fiction Judge Nominated

Filmography[edit]

Year Film Director Producer Actor Notes
1997 Pardes Red XN Red XN Green tickY a small role in a song meri mehbooba
1997 Aflatoon Red XN Red XN Green tickY
2004 Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Red XN Red XN Green tickY
2007 Lal Pahare'r Katha Green tickY Red XN Red XN
2011 F.A.L.T.U Green tickY Red XN Red XN
2013 ABCD: Any Body Can Dance Green tickY Red XN Red XN
2014 DOA Death of Amar Red XN Green tickY Red XN
Entertainment Red XN Red XN Green tickY
2015 ABCD 2 Green tickY Red XN Red XN
2016 A Flying Jatt Green tickY Green tickY Red XN
2018 Race 3 Green tickY Red XN Red XN
Nawabzaade Red XN Green tickY Red XN
Zero Red XN Red XN Green tickY
2020 Street Dancer 3D Green tickY Green tickY Red XN
2021 Time to Dance Red XN Green tickY Red XN
2024 Be Happy Green tickY Red XN Red XN Pre-production

Choreography[edit]

Year Film(s) Notes
1995 |Debut as videographer 2000 Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar
2001 Tum Bin
Ehsaas: The Feeling
2002 Pitaah
Aankhen
Chhal
Road
Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
Kaante
Saathiya
2003 Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai
Stumped
Qayamat: City Under Threat
Janashen
Mumbai Matinee
Tehzeeb
Wrong Number
Chameli
2004 Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Bardaasht
Asambhav
Dhoom
Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao
Daag - Shades of Love
2005 Shabd
Lucky: No Time for Love
Naam Gum Jaayega
Waqt: The Race Against Time
Jo Bole So Nihaal
Chocolate
Koi Aap Sa
Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena
Apaharan
2006 Aksar
Fight Club - Members Only
36 China Town
Ankahee
Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone...
Bas Ek Pal
Anthony Kaun Hai?
Jaane Hoga Kya
Dil Diya Hai
Pyaar Ke Side Effects
Rocky - The Rebel
Hota Hai Dil Pyaar Mein Paagal
Apna Sapna Money Money
Aryan
Tom Dick And Harry
2007 Marigold
Just Married
Delhii Heights
Good Boy, Bad Boy
The Train
MP3: Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar
Awarapan
Cash
Darling
Chhodon Naa Yaar
Speed
Main Rony Aur Jony
2008 Mithya
Singh Is Kinng
Bhoothnath
De Taali
Mission Istaanbul
Ugly Aur Pagli
Rock On!!
Hijack
Kidnap
Sorry Bhai!
Maharathi
2009 The Stoneman Murders
Kal Kissne Dekha
London Dreams
Mr. Fraud
2010 Enthiran
2011 Patiala House
F.A.L.T.U
Pyaar Ka Punchnama
Kucch Luv Jaisaa
Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap
Stand By
Love Breakups Zindagi
Loot
2012 Student of the Year
2013 ABCD: Any Body Can Dance also director
Zila Ghaziabad
Aurangzeb
Besharam
Krrish 3
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
2014 Dedh Ishqiya
2 States
Jai Ho
Entertainment
O Teri
Familywala
2015 Tevar
ABCD 2 also director
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Bajirao Mastani
Dilwale
2016 A Flying Jatt also director
2018 Race 3 Also director
Zero
2019 Kalank
Student of the Year 2
2020 Street Dancer 3D also director
2021 Time To Dance also producer

Television[edit]

Year Show Channel Note(s)
2009 Dance India Dance (season 1) Zee TV Judge
Dance India Dance (season 2) Zee TV Judge
2010 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 Sony Entertainment Television Judge
Dance India Dance Doubles Zee TV Guest Judge
2011 Dance Ke Superstars Zee TV Judge
Dance India Dance (season 3) Zee TV Judge
2012 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 Colors TV Judge
Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe Sony Entertainment Television Guest
Nach Baliye 5 Star Plus Guest & Judge
2013 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 Colors TV Judge
2014 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 Colors TV Judge
2015 Dance Plus Star Plus Judge
2016 Dance Plus 2 Star Plus Judge
2017 Dance Plus (season 3) Star Plus Judge
Dance Champions Star Plus Judge
2018 Dance Plus (season 4) Star Plus Judge
2019 Dance Plus 5 Star Plus Judge
Bigg Boss 13 Colors TV Guest
2020 India's Best Dancer Sony Entertainment Television Guest/Judge
The Kapil Sharma Show Sony Entertainment Television Guest
Bigg Boss 14 Colors TV
2021 Dance Deewane (Season 3)
Super Dancer Chapter 4 Sony TV
Dance Dance Junior Season 2 Star Jalsha Guest Judge (Grand Finale)
Dance Plus 6 Star Plus Judge
2022 DID Little Master (Season 5) Zee TV Grand Master
2022 DID Super Moms Zee TV Grand Master
2023 India's best dancer (Season 3) Sony TV Guest judge
2023 Hip hop india Amazon mini tv Judge
2023 Dance plus pro Disney plus hotstar Super Judge

Music videos[edit]

Here are the music videos directed by Remo

Year Song Singer Refs
2015 GF BF Song Gurinder Seagal, Jacqueline Fernandez
2017 Baby Marvake Maanegi Raftaar [10]
2018 Main Hua Tera Avitesh Shrivastava [11]
2019 The Chamiya Song DJ Bravo, Rimi Nique, Gaurav Dagaonkar
2020 Swag Se Solo Sachet Sandon, Tanishk Bagchi
Saaton Janam Ishan Khan, Shambhavi Thakur [12]
Dil Na Todunga Abhi Dutt
Baby Girl Guru Randhawa, Dhvani Bhanushali [13]
Log Kya Kahenge Abhinav Shekhar
2021 Vande Mataram Tiger Shroff [14]
2022 Nach Babe Sunny Leone Performer

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Remo D'Souza aka Ramesh yadav: Top 9 celebrities and their real names". india.com.
  2. ^ a b Asian Paints (26 December 2013). Har Ghar Kucch Kehta Hai – Ninth Episode Remo D'Souza. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021 – via YouTube. Birthdate and birthplace noted at 58 seconds.
  3. ^ "Remo D'Souza on his love story with Lizelle D'Souza and their first meeting". The Times of India.
  4. ^ "'Remo inspired many choreographers to move to direction,' says Bosco Martis". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Exclusive biography of #RemoDSouza and on his life". FilmiBeat. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Lizelle Watkins: The Pillar Behind Remo D'Souza's Success". thearunjoshiverse. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Step inside Remo D'Souza and Lizelle's eclectic home that their friends believed was unlucky for him". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Remo D'Souza suffers a heart attack, wife Lizelle D'Souza confirms that he's better now". filmfare.com.
  9. ^ "Remo D'souza suffers a heart attack, admitted to hospital in Mumbai". Hindustan Times. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Raftaar x Nora Fatehi – Baby Marvake Maanegi – YouTube". 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2019 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Wish to act in Bollywood films: Avitesh Shrivastava". radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Watch New Hindi Hit Song Music Video – 'Saaton Janam' Sung By Ishaan Khan and Shambhavi Thakur | Hindi Video Songs". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Baby Girl: Guru Randhawa and Dhvani Bhanushali's second collaboration to release on October 1". The Times of India. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Vande Mataram Song: Tiger Shroff unveils motion poster of his new single". Bollywood Bubble. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

External links[edit]