Remo D'Souza commenced his film career as a dancer and choreographer, contributing to projects such as Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar and Saathiya. A decade later, he transitioned into directing with the film Faltu. Now, as he makes his debut in the OTT space with Be Happy, a heartwarming narrative centered on the relationship between a father and daughter set against a dance backdrop, he engages in a conversation with HT about his film and his artistic journey thus far.

Remo D'Souza on choreography vs direction

In discussing the distinction between choreography and direction, Remo reflects on his initial foray into directing with Faltu, followed by action films like A Flying Jatt and Race 3. However, he is predominantly recognized for his work in dance-centric films, particularly the ABCD series. He candidly admits that dance was never his primary comfort zone. "If dance had been my comfort zone, my debut film would have been a dance movie. Instead, I chose to create Faltu, an educational film unrelated to dance. I am passionate about crafting films with compelling narratives and emotional depth. My foray into dance films was prompted by my experience on a dance reality show, which led me to realize that this genre was underrepresented in India," he explains.

Remo acknowledges that the success of his dance films has inadvertently shaped his public persona. "I produced that film, and it achieved significant success. Following that, I created the sequel (ABCD 2), which also performed exceptionally well. In this industry, labels are assigned quickly. Consequently, I became known as the filmmaker of dance movies. However, I have also ventured into superhero and action films," he elaborates.

Currently, Remo embraces multiple roles as a choreographer, reality show judge, and director. When asked to choose a preferred role, his response is straightforward: "Whenever people inquire about my preference between directing and choreography, I consistently state that I favor directing. This allows me to approach choreography on my own terms, rather than through someone else's perspective." He emphasizes that Be Happy provided him with this creative freedom. "In this film, I was able to choreograph (Abhishek Bachchan) in a manner that aligned with my vision, which is incredibly liberating."

How Be Happy is personal

Be Happy narrates the journey of a father who, albeit reluctantly, learns to dance in order to support his daughter's aspirations. According to Remo, the narrative centers around emotions, with dance serving merely as a backdrop. "For me, it's an endearing father-daughter tale," he remarks. "The dance could have been replaced with any other activity, but it seamlessly integrates into the story." The plot also portrays the daughter, played by Inaayat Verma, who perceives her father, portrayed by Abhishek, as anything but impressive. When asked if this sentiment resonates with him, Remo chuckles, stating, "At home, you are simply a father. You are not the person seen on television, receiving requests for autographs. It serves as a significant reality check."

The film also features performances by Nora Fatehi and Nassar and is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on March 14.

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