Dino Morea – Former model and Bollywood actor best known for his lead role in ‘Raaz’

Dino Morea is a super model turned actor, who predominantly worked in Bollywood since late 1990s. He marked his screen debut with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi in 1999, alongside a bunch of newcomers and has completed 2 decades in Bollywood. Though he had a super successful career in modelling industry in the second half of 1990s, he couldn’t replicate the success in films. However his second Bollywood release, Raaz was the biggest hit of year 2002. Baaz: A Bird in Danger, Aksar, Dus Kahaniyaan, Gumnaam – The Mystery, Sssshhh.., Karzzz, Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi etc are a few of his memorable roles. He produced a few movies including Jism 2.

Dino Morea was born in Bangalore, Karnataka to Italian father and Indian mother in year 1975. His mother is a Malayali, born in Kalamassery of Ernakulam district. He has two brothers. His childhood and younger days were spent in Bangalore where he completed his studies and started his modelling journey. Initially he was noticed while modelling for a fashion company, and more offers came in, along with his first Bollywood offer, Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. Rinke Khanna and Sanjay Suri also marked their screen debut with the movie, which bombed at the box office. But its songs became immensely popular.

Dino turned a star overnight with his second Bollywood release, Raaz in 2002. He also dated Bipasha Basu for a few years and the duo worked in three movies together in a row. But the next two movies – Gunah and Ishq Hai Tumse couldn’t replicate the success of Raaz. In between he shared screen space with Karishma Kapoor for the thriller, Baaz: A Bird in Danger and got noticed for his lead role. However following the breakup with Bipasha Basu, and a series of flops, Dino Morea’s career faded soon. Films like Sssshhh… made average business. He also played a few supporting roles on screen, but none could revive his career. Thus he remained a one-hit wonder of Bollywood. In 2019 he marked his web series debut with Mentalhood, sharing screenspace with Baaz co-star Karishma Kapoor.

Dino Morea – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. This good-looking actor is a south Indian born in Bangalore to parents of mixed ethnicity. However he is best linked to Bollywood, rather than south Indian films though he has worked in a few.

2. He dated former model and actress Bipasha Basu during 1996-2002. During the shooting days of Raaz and Gunaah, they grew closer. They also worked together in Ishq Hai Tumse. They broke the relationship after a couple of their movies flopped.

3. He briefly dated actress-model Lara Dutta and fashion designer Nandita Mahtani. As of 2019, he is unmarried.

4. He won Gladrags Manhunt competition in 1999, which gave him direct entry to films. He flaunted 8-pack abs that time, which was not known to Bollywood then.

5. He played the brief role of Captain Vinod in year 2000 Tamil film, Kandukondain Kandukondain, which starred Bollywood heroines – Aishwarya Rai, Tabu and Pooja Bhatra. It was his first south Indian film and only the second release after Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi.

6. He is an animal lover. Once he rescued a dog and named it Slidey. Both featured in an ad for PETA.

7. He practises Christianity.

8. He played negative role in Pyar Impossible.

9. He participated in the TV reality show, Khatron Ki Khiladi in 2010.

10. In 1998, he was featured aside Bipasha Basu in a controversial ad of Calida, an inner-wear. Due to protests the ad was banned in India.

11. He owns a successful coffee shop in Mumbai – Crepe Station, which is famous for waffles and pancakes.

12. He was featured aside Chitrangada Singh in the music video of Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Koi Lauta De Woh Pyare Pyare Din. He was also featured in the music video Jaanam Kuchh To Bolo of Hosh, aside Tanya Singh.

13. In 2017 he marked Malayalam movie debut with Dulquer Salman starrer Solo.

14. In 2015 he made a special appearance in Bipasha Basu starrer Alone. In this movie Bipasha was paired with her future husband Karan Singh Grover.

15. Born and brought up in Bangalore, he did a single film in Kannada language – Julie, remake of Lakshmi starrer old hit film with the same title. (Chattakari is the original Malayalam version). He played the male lead opposite Ramya. It’s one among numerous remakes of Chattakari made in different languages. 

Bollywood songs filmed on Dino Morea

Dino Morea owns some good songs to his credit, though majority of his films flopped at box office. Here I list a few of them. I haven’t watched all Dino Morea films. So I may miss some good songs. Please let me know if you know some more good songs filmed on Dino Morea.

1. Musu Musu Haasi – Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi

2. Woh Pehli Baar – Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi

3. Dil Se Mere – Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi

4. Aapke Pyar Mein – Raaz

5. Jo Bhi Kasmein – Raaz

6. Mein Agar Saamne – Raaz

7. Ae Subah Tu Shabnami – Baaz: A Bird in Danger

8. Hamne Tumko Dil Ye De Diya – Gunaah

9. Kaisa Hai Yeh Deewangi – Gunaah

10. O Soniya – Ishq Hai Tumse

11. Mohabbat Se Zyada – Gumnaam

12. Chhore Ki Baatein – Fight Club

13. Hota Hai Hota Hai – Plan

14. Tu Hai Kamal – Aap Ki Khatir 

15. I Love You For What You Are – Aap Ki Khatir 

16. Title track – – Aap Ki Khatir