Renowned Indian choreographer and filmmaker Remo D’Souza recently shared the heartwarming story of his romance with his wife, Lizelle Watkins, on Faisal Shaikh’s show, Long Drive. Known for his exceptional work on blockbuster tracks like “Badtameez Dil,” “Deewani Mastani,” and “The Disco Song,” Remo credits much of his success to Lizelle. Their love story, as he recounted, seems straight out of a movie.
During the interview, Remo revealed that he and Lizelle did not get along initially. In the 90s, when they worked on music video shoots, Lizelle was one of six models, while Remo was a dancer who taught them their steps. Reflecting on those days, Remo shared, “Our relationship started with hate. We wouldn’t even look at each other. The six girls, including Lizelle, used to get vanity vans and triple the pay while we stood in the sun and worked harder.”
Despite their rocky start, things began to change during rehearsals. Remo would often punish Lizelle for coming late and using her phone excessively. “I would tell her to go out and make her stand outside. Then they would cry crocodile tears in front of choreographers, and we would get scolded,” he recounted with a smile.
The turning point in their relationship came during long-distance travel for projects. “Our love story actually began while traveling on buses to far-off locations,” Remo said. He recalled offering Lizelle a seat beside him because everyone else was afraid of him. “I have a weakness: if someone caresses my hair, they get hold of me. When I fell asleep on her lap, she did just that. That was the moment she grabbed my heart.”
Remo and Lizelle married in 1999. On their 20th anniversary in 2019, the couple celebrated their love by getting married for the third time according to Christian rituals. They are proud parents to two sons, Dhruv and Gabriel.
Remo’s candid recount of his journey with Lizelle not only highlights his professional achievements but also underscores the profound impact of his personal life on his career.