Remo Gopi D'Souza (born Ramesh Gopi Nair; 2 April 1974) is an Indian choreographer, film director, and producer. 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 Hindi film 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.
Early and personal life 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 NC(E) 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. Birthdate and birthplace noted at 58 seconds.
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.
D'Souza is married to Lizelle Watkins (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. Lizelle also collaborates with him and assists him in various projects.
On 11 December 2020, D'Souza suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the ICU of Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. Soon, he recovered and got discharged.
Career
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 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 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 of Dance Plus along with host Raghav Juyal, Sugandha Mishra and team captains Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan , Suresh Mukund , Karishma Chawan , and Punit Pathak.
In 2020, Remo directed the third installment of the 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 +Film awardsYearFilmAwardCategoryResultRef.2004Tehzeeb Zee Cine AwardsBest Choreography2011EnthiranVijay AwardsBest Find of the Year2013Student of the YearZee Cine AwardsBest Choreography (For the song "Disco Deewane")2014Yeh Jawaani Hai DeewaniScreen AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Badtameez Dil")Zee Cine AwardsInternational Indian Film Academy AwardsProducer's Guild Film AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Balam Pichkari")2016Anybody Can Dance 2BIG Star Entertainment AwardsMost Entertaining Social FilmStardust AwardsBest Choreography (for all songs of ABCD 2)Screen AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Sunn Saathiya")Bajirao Mastani63rd National Film AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Deewani Mastani")International Indian Film Academy AwardsProducer's Guild Film AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Pinga")Best Choreography (for the song "Deewani Mastani")Zee Cine Awards64th Filmfare AwardsBest Choreography (for the song "Pinga")2020Kalank65th Filmfare AwardsBest Choreography (For the song "Ghar More Pardesiya") +Television awardsYearShowAwardCategoryResultRef.2013Jhalak Dikhhla JaaColors Golden Petal AwardsBest Non-Fiction Judge
Filmography As director and producer YearTitle DirectorProducerNotes 2007Lal Pahare'r Katha Bengali film2011 F.A.L.T.U 2013ABCD: Any Body Can Dance 2014 DOA: Death of Amar 2015ABCD 2 2016A Flying Jatt 2018Race 3 Nawabzaade 2020Street Dancer 3D 2021 Time to Dance 2025Be Happy
Acting credits YearTitle Role Notes 1997Pardes Dancer in the song "Meri Mehbooba" UncreditedAflatoon Raja's friend 2004 Meenaxi: A Tale of Three CitiesKameshwar's friend 2014 EntertainmentHimself Cameo appearance2018Zero2024 Madgaon ExpressDr. Danny
As choreographer YearTitle 2000Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar2001Tum BinEhsaas: The Feeling2002PitaahAankhenChhalRoadYeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?KaanteSaathiya2003Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha HaiStumpedQayamat: City Under ThreatJanasheenMumbai MatineeTehzeebWrong NumberChameli2004Meenaxi: A Tale of Three CitiesBardaashtAsambhavDhoomPopcorn Khao! Mast Ho JaoDaag - Shades of Love2005ShabdLucky: No Time for LoveNaam Gum JaayegaWaqt: The Race Against TimeJo Bole So NihaalChocolateKoi Aap SaEk Khiladi Ek HaseenaApaharan2006AksarFight Club - Members Only36 China TownAnkaheeAlag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone...Bas Ek Pal Anthony Kaun Hai? Jaane Hoga Kya Dil Diya HaiPyaar Ke Side EffectsRocky - The RebelHota Hai Dil Pyaar Mein PaagalApna Sapna Money Money AryanTom Dick And Harry2007MarigoldJust MarriedDelhii HeightsGood Boy, Bad BoyThe TrainMP3: Mera Pehla Pehla PyaarAwarapanCashDarlingChhodon Naa YaarSpeedMain Rony Aur Jony2008MithyaSingh Is KinngBhoothnathDe TaaliMission IstaanbulUgly Aur PagliRock On!!HijackKidnapSorry Bhai!Maharathi2009The Stoneman MurdersKal Kissne DekhaLondon DreamsMr. Fraud2010Enthiran2011Patiala HouseF.A.L.T.UPyaar Ka PunchnamaKucch Luv JaisaaBbuddah... Hoga Terra BaapStand ByLove Breakups ZindagiLoot2012Student of the Year2013ABCD: Any Body Can DanceZila GhaziabadAurangzebBesharamKrrish 3Gori Tere Pyaar MeinYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani2014Dedh Ishqiya2 StatesJai HoEntertainmentO TeriFamilywala2015TevarABCD 2Bajrangi BhaijaanBajirao MastaniDilwale2016A Flying Jatt2018 Race 3Zero2019KalankStudent of the Year 22020Street Dancer 3D2021Time To Dance2023Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani2025Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri2026Rahu KetuRaja Shivaji
Television Year Show Note(s) 2009 Dance India Dance Season 1 Judge Dance India Dance Season 2 2010 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 Dance India Dance Doubles Guest Judge 2011 Dance Ke Superstars Judge Dance India Dance Season 3 2012 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe Guest Nach Baliye 5 Guest & Judge 2013 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 Judge 2014 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 2015 Dance Plus 2016 Dance Plus 2 2017 Dance Plus Season 3 Dance Champions 2018 Dance Plus Season 4 2019 Dance Plus 5 2020 India's Best Dancer Guest/Judge2021Dance Dance Junior Season 2 Guest Judge (Grand Finale) Dance Plus 6Judge2022 DID Little Master Season 5Grand Master DID Super Moms 2023 India's Best Dancer Season 3 Guest judge Hip Hop India Judge Dance Plus Pro Super Judge
Music videos YearTitleSinger(s)Ref.2015GF BF SongGurinder Seagal, Jacqueline Fernandez2017Baby Marvake MaanegiRaftaar2018Main Hua TeraAvitesh Shrivastava2019The Chamiya SongDJ Bravo, Rimi Nique, Gaurav Dagaonkar2020Swag Se SoloSachet Sandon, Tanishk BagchiSaaton JanamIshan Khan, Shambhavi ThakurDil Na TodungaAbhi DuttBaby GirlGuru Randhawa, Dhvani BhanushaliLog Kya KahengeAbhinav Shekhar2021Vande MataramTiger Shroff2022Nach BabeSunny Leone
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