Remo D'Souza: I haven’t got the nod to lift heavy weights yet

Remo D’Souza. Pics/Sameer Markande

Concerned fans of celebrities often turn to Google to seek answers on what ails them, or about their road to recovery. But, last December, an unusual inquiry hit the website's chart of frequently asked questions. ‘Why did Remo D'Souza have a heart attack?'

"Neither my doctors, nor I, precisely know," D'Souza addresses what is only a fitting concern. At the age of 46, the filmmaker has been flaunting a body that could egg even the young lot of actors to pull up their socks. Backed by a lifestyle devoid of aerated drinks, and cigarettes, D'Souza could well be the poster boy of good health. "When I was diagnosed, it was 100 per cent [blockage]. That obviously couldn't have happened overnight. I kept telling my doctors that there should have been some signs; a sense of exhaustion, perhaps? There was none; it was sudden. So, they are still figuring it out," he says, adding that, determined to pin it to a cause, they have, "for now", assigned it to his genetic makeup. Although his father passed away owing to other ailments, D'Souza admits he too had an attack.

The filmmaker packs in 90-minutes of training today, a routine that is "not as aggressive as it used to be". He kicks off his day with an hour-long dose of cardiovascular work, involving fast-paced walking on the treadmill, skipping, or cycling, and follows it up with another 30-minute bout of walking in the evening. "I haven't got the nod to lift heavy weights yet, and am not allowed to run either. Although, I did so before the attack, when kick-boxing, and running comprised a major chunk of my regimen. I would also lift heavy weights. It is a misconception that dancers should not do so. What is crucial is practicing flexibility work, and taking to a good warm-up routine. If you do that, lifting heavy weights is fine."

D'Souza was introduced to a gamut of sports in childhood, while growing up around the Air Force mess, where his father served as chef. "Fitness has been part of my life since I gained consciousness. Our school focused immensely on fitness-related activities, and sports like swimming. Before being introduced to dance, I learnt karate and other forms of MMA. Dance came my way later, and I took to it. But, when I turned to direction later, I again restored to a proper fitness routine to stay active."

While his attack has now brought a sense of order to his eating habits, ridding his diet of foods that are oily or salty, D'Souza says his hectic schedule implied he did not always have an appreciable pattern. "When I got busy, I could go for two days without eating. Then, I would eat a lot. I stopped doing that since I began taking care of my body. However, I have a sweet-tooth, and that is my biggest enemy." Appointing a fitness coach and nutritionist has enabled him to be accountable. "While I would initially train on my own, I keep a trainer owing to my schedule. I have someone remind me of my [meals], and having someone wait for you at the gym, motivates you to head there," says D'Souza, who now works out at his home gym, a lavish space that houses equipment from the best brands.

When D'Souza bought his pad in the city as a bachelor, he converted the 100 sq-foot additional space outside his 300 sq-foot kholi into a gym with one machine that facilitated a variety of workouts. "Ever since, I have wanted to add weights in the space so that I could train without worrying about going to the gym. There are a lot of directors who are not as active as I am, and I am fortunate enough to have [skills] like filmmaking and choreography associated with my career. I make it a point to stay active. I can't sit for too long, even if I am at my office. One must stand more, and walk often, and I keep doing that."

When dancers train

Karishma Chavan
As dancers, our bodies are immune to movement and high-intensity cardiovascular workouts. Stretching is something we take for granted. For me, training is always a combination of weights, dance, and yoga. This combination has worked for me because it strengthens the body, and yet keeps it supple. I also choose to
explore different forms of exercise instead of sticking to one.

Raghav Juyal
Running and practicing any kind of sport, is important. Apart from keeping you fit, it also improves your responses, and is beneficial for both dancers and actors. Also, more than body-weight training or lifting, I believe core training is extremely essential for dancers.

Suresh Mukund
As dancers, endurance is among the factors we need to focus on while taking to a fitness routine, because our lifestyle demands that. I practice endurance training in the form of CrossFit-like workouts, including high intensity interval training. The routine also depends on the kind of dance you practice. Pushups, squats and lunges enable hip-hop dancers like me execute jumps and plyometric work.