Remo D’Souza on converting to Christianity, raising children without religious pressure: ‘My father said, 'Bas mera naam mat change karna'’

Remo D’Souza and his wife Lizelle recently spoke about faith, spirituality and conversion, sharing how their beliefs have evolved beyond the limits of a single religion. During a conversation on Nayandeep Rakshit’s YouTube channel, the couple addressed questions around Remo’s decision to convert to Christianity and how his family responded to it.Remo, born Ramesh Gopi Nair, recalled informing his parents about his choice and said he never felt pressured or judged for it. “No, I think my parents were very... I don’t know how they were so cool,” he said, reflecting on their calm reaction.Sharing a specific moment with his father, Remo said, “I went one day and told my father that I do a lot of work for the Church, and I think I want to join them. He said, ‘Thik hai, karle. Bas mera naam mat change karna (Okay, do it. Just don’t change my name).’ So that’s why my name is Remo Gopi D’Souza.”The filmmaker’s words highlighted how acceptance, rather than resistance, shaped his journey of conversion.Lizelle, who was raised a Catholic, spoke about how her own spiritual path has expanded over the years. “For me, it’s very, very important, even for him. I was born a Catholic, he was born a Hindu, and he later converted. I used to always keep Ganpati... for the last 25 years now,” she said. She added that the passing of her parents played a key role in her growing inclination towards Hinduism. “In the last 4–5 years, maybe because of the passing of my parents, I have suddenly found myself drawn towards Hinduism. I do all the pujas and stuff, and I like doing it, even though I am a Catholic.” The couple also touched upon raising their children in an environment of choice and respect. Lizelle recalled a moment when Remo’s parents were briefly unsure—during the naming of their first son. Remo explained, “So we named him Adonis, and my parents are from Jamnagar, so how will they pronounce it? So we also gave him a Hindu name, Dhruv, so he has two names. Later he grew up and decided to go with Adonis.”In recent years, Remo has openly practised multiple spiritual traditions. In 2025, he visited the Maha Kumbh Mela with Lizelle and shared a video of himself taking a holy dip in Prayagraj. The couple also visited the Tirupati temple together, underlining their belief that faith is personal, evolving and rooted in experience rather than strict religious identity.