Popular choreographer Remo D'Souza, known for hosting successful dance shows like Dance India Dance, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and Dance Plus, has had an inspiring journey from a background dancer to a choreographer and director. In 2024, Remo and his wife Lizelle appeared on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa's podcast, where they shared insights into their love story, family life, and more. Lizelle recalled the emotional moment when Remo suffered a heart attack, breaking down in tears. She revealed that Salman Khan was the first person she called, and he arranged everything. Lizelle also shared that she lost 40 kilos in two and a half years.
How They Met
Remo explained that they were part of Ahmed Khan's dance groups. He had two teams: one for dancers and another for models. The models were better paid and had AC vans, while dancers worked hard in the sun. Lizelle was from Bandra, and Remo used to get irritated whenever he saw her.
How They Fell in Love
Remo recalled a trip to Hyderabad for a shoot. While everyone was having fun on the bus, he fell asleep. Lizelle sat at the back and started giving him a head massage, which marked the beginning of their love story. After three to four months, everyone knew they were dating. Many people doubted their relationship would last, with one person joking that if they stayed together for more than a month, he would sit on a hot stove.
Their Relationship
Lizelle shared that Remo would test her commitment by making her travel in a local train from Churchgate to Mira Road and back. Even her mother thought the relationship might not last. At that time, Lizelle had applied for a job as an air hostess with Emirates and was called for medical tests, with a posting in Dubai. However, Remo told her he didn't believe in long-distance relationships. She took a chance and decided not to take the job, thinking that if the relationship didn't work out, she would find another path. After that, there was no looking back.
Had Their First Baby Before Marriage
Lizelle revealed that when they started dating, she was 20 and Remo was 24. By the time their son was born, she was 21 and he was 25. They had not told their parents they were married. When she became pregnant, people asked if they had already gotten married. They said they had tied the knot in a temple, but her mother was still suspicious.
Friends Asked Us to Get Married
When their son was born, Anubhav Sinha and Ratna visited them at the hospital and suggested they get married. Only Hansal Mehta, Ahmed Khan, his wife, and Anubhav Sinha knew that Remo and Lizelle were not married at the time. Anubhav kept telling Lizelle to marry Remo, but she jokingly replied that she didn't trust him. He looked at her in disbelief, as if to say, "You already have a child with him, and you're saying you don't trust him?"
Their Elder Son Attended Their Wedding
Lizelle's mother later asked whether their son had been baptised. She said that Remo and Lizelle would have to get married in a church because their temple wedding would not be considered valid in her eyes. Lizelle kept delaying the matter for nearly six months, even though baptisms are usually held within 40 days of a child's birth. Finally, on October 5, Remo and Lizelle got married in a church, with their son present at the wedding.
Lizelle Recalls the Day Remo Suffered a Heart Attack
Lizelle remembered it was the day of Puneet's wedding. They had gone shopping the day before and made arrangements to attend the celebration. That day, their trainer asked them to work out. Remo said he wasn't in the mood because they had to leave for the wedding. While Lizelle exercised, Remo only walked on the treadmill. After finishing her workout, Lizelle went to the washroom and spoke to a friend on the phone. When she came back, she saw Remo sitting down. He told her he didn't feel like working out and felt as though something was stuck in his chest.
Remo Recalls the Day
Remo advised that whenever there is a pain in the center of the chest, it might not be acidity. He had a pain in the center of his chest and didn't think it could be serious. He asked his trainer to wait and lay down on the floor but got no relief. He told his trainer he wasn't feeling well and decided not to train. The best thing was listening to his body's signals. He asked Lizelle to go home, but he couldn't stand and sat down in the lift. He started to bend, scaring his wife. He reached home on the 12th floor and started coughing and feeling like vomiting.
How Lizelle's Smartness Helped
Lizelle quickly put her Apple Watch on Remo's wrist, and it showed a problem with his ECG. They checked again, and the result was the same. She immediately said they should go to the hospital, and for the first time, Remo agreed without hesitation. He is not someone who takes medicines easily, not even for a fever. It was during the lockdown, and they didn't have a driver. They had a large car, and Lizelle wasn't comfortable driving it. By chance, it was a Friday. Remo called several friends for help, but no one was available. As they were driving, they passed a mosque, and Remo's rakhi brother Tanveer was coming out. Remo asked him to get into the car. Tanveer immediately told them to head to the hospital, but the roads were heavily congested. Eventually, they managed to reach the hospital.
The First Call I Made Was to Salman Bhai
When the doctor checked Remo, he pressed an alarm that notified all other doctors of a serious case. They were supposed to shoot for Bigg Boss that day, and Lizelle was on a call. The doctor came and said Remo had a heart attack. Lizelle disconnected the call. She is usually a very tough person, but she suddenly felt small. The first call she made was to Salman Khan, who was on another call. She messaged him that she was at Kokila and Remo had a heart attack. In the meantime, Varun Dhawan called her; he had COVID at that time. She made him speak to the doctor, who told Varun that the ECG was not normal.
Salman Bhai Told Me Lizelle Just Relax
Amidst all this, Salman Khan called back, and by that time Lizelle was just crying. She said Salman is God-sent. Sometimes it's not about someone being there financially, but just being there. At that moment, she felt helpless and needed someone she could trust. Salman calmly told her, "Lizelle, just relax." He understood that she was panicking. He assured her that doctors would be there within minutes, and just as he said, the doctors arrived almost immediately and took charge of the situation.
I Remember Salman Bhai Telling Me, "Lizelle, I've Told the Doctors That They Think It Is Me"
Salman was on the call and told Lizelle he had spoken to the doctors. He said, "Lizelle, I've told the doctors that they think it is me." He told her not to hesitate in anything. Throughout the surgery, Salman was on and off the call with her. Doctors told her it would be 20 minutes, but it took 45 minutes to an hour. Lizelle was quite scared. She informed Remo's brother. She remembered that as Remo was going into the operation theatre, she caught his hand and told him, "Don't do anything..." (she starts crying and breaks down). He told her, "I won't leave you." She knew then that nothing would go wrong.
Lizelle on Her Drastic Transformation and Weight Loss
Many of Lizelle's friends received calls and messages asking if she had gone for surgery to lose weight. Her mother always wanted her to lose weight, but she passed away in 2018. In 2019, Lizelle decided to do it for her mother. She messaged her trainer one day, and from that time, there was no looking back until Remo had a health scare. Her last 8 kilos were lost in 8 months during the lockdown. When she did her blood test, all the fatty liver and everything had reversed. It took her two and a half years to lose 40 kilos.
