What started as what seemed like a routine case of acidity turned into a life-threatening medical emergency for choreographer-director Remo D'Souza during the COVID-19 lockdown. In a throwback podcast conversation, Remo and his wife Lizelle D'Souza recalled the terrifying day when he suffered a heart attack and how Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Varun Dhawan stepped in to support them.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa in 2024, Remo revealed that he initially mistook the pain in his chest for acidity.
"Whenever we feel pain in the middle of the chest, we think it's acidity. It's not always like that," he said, urging people not to ignore warning signs from their bodies.
The filmmaker recalled experiencing discomfort after a workout session. As the pain intensified, he struggled to stand and began coughing and feeling nauseous. Concerned about his condition, Lizelle used an Apple Watch to check his ECG. The reading indicated something was wrong, prompting the couple to rush to the hospital.
Once doctors confirmed that Remo had suffered a heart attack, Lizelle found herself overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. The first person she reached out to was Salman Khan.
According to Lizelle, Salman immediately reassured her and told her not to panic. She later described him as "God-sent," saying his calm presence helped her stay strong during one of the most difficult moments of her life. Salman reportedly spoke to the doctors himself and remained in touch throughout Remo's surgery, repeatedly assuring her that everything would be taken care of.
At the same time, Varun Dhawan also extended his support. Despite battling COVID-19 himself, the actor called Lizelle to check on Remo's condition. She even connected Varun directly with the doctors, who informed him that Remo's ECG readings were abnormal. His concern and constant communication offered additional comfort to the family as they awaited updates from the operating theatre.
Doctors initially estimated that the procedure would take around 20 minutes, but it eventually stretched to nearly an hour, leaving Lizelle terrified. However, Remo's surgery was successful, and he recovered from the health scare.
Looking back, the couple credited timely medical intervention, listening to the body's warning signals, and the support of close friends from the film industry for helping them navigate one of the toughest phases of their lives. The story remains a reminder that symptoms often dismissed as acidity can sometimes signal a far more serious health condition.
