Episode 2 Hotel India

Mumbai...

..the biggest city in India.

Endlessly rich in culture...

..and in contradictions.

It's home to one of the oldest

and grandest hotels in the world, the Taj Mahal Palace.

I love excess.

They always say if you've got to ask the price of something then

you're not rich enough to stay here.

It has over 500 rooms...

..and 1,500 staff.

I don't feel that I'm 61. I feel that I'm 16.

They built me very strongly.

It is famed for being meticulous - where no detail is too small

or demand too great.

Anything that's possible. I cannot get you pink elephant. I'll try.

With an army of staff striving for flawless service...

This is India. And we frankly don't say no to anything.

..it is where the super-rich of today come to

live like the Maharajahs of India's past.

Sometimes I close my eyes and I pretend all of India is like this.

The hotel's deputy manager, Parveen, is

responsible for much of its day-to-day running.

What we need to do is go through today,

all the functions for the next eight days.

OK, so start.

Let's talk about the important ones.

He's looked after hotels all over the world,

but nowhere on the scale of the Taj.

-Residential wedding.

-Wedding, yeah. How many rooms are let?

Approximately 80 at this particular time.

'It's not just a hotel, it's an institution.

'You know, a lot of different kinds of firsts happened here.'

The first hotel to have electricity. The first hotel to have elevators.

'The first ballroom in the country.'

Thank you.

Despite having an entire hotel to look after,

nothing is too small to escape Parveen's attention.

'It's extremely important to get to the minutest detail.

'The ironing of the tablecloths to the way the flower

'arrangements are and checking of each and every glass.

'These are some of the most important things.'

This needs to be done.

A lot of these have developed a bit of a tarnish, so get that done.

'The kind of people who we get here

'are the top creme de la creme of society.'

You see watermarks.

'Every small detail has been kept in mind to give people

'a feeling of luxury and exclusivity.'

See that handle, that's come off.

So get that sorted out.

These tablecloths need a bit of an ironing.

-Certainly, sir.

-Those flowers need to be changed.

Can you help checking things when you walk around?

I do that all the time.

They hate me in this restaurant. I can find 500 faults.

We've got 1,500 people working here so we need to ensure every

person delivers what he is supposed to deliver all the time.

For example, the in-room dining actually might end up walking

a mile to reach your room and there are certain places where

two people have to lift a trolley to bring it to you.

There's a lot which goes at the back of the hotel to ensure there's

a perfect service delivered.

Good afternoon, everyone. We have 45 arrivals pending for the day.

Those most attuned to the demands of the guests are

the hotel's 35 butlers.

Another important guest is coming and he loves to enjoy his breakfast

and he loves to have the toast freshly brought

out from the toaster and on his plate.

So, the room as per his preference with a toaster, toast holder,

everything already preset.

He'll be coming quite late in the night but evening shift butler

just do a double check of the room because he's a very important guest.

DOORBELL DINGS

Valet service.

We recently had the head of a fairly large country who came

and stayed with us, one of the premiers.

And the rider for him was one of the toughest I've ever seen.

They don't want a speck of light in the room in the night.

And they don't want even 10 decibels of noise coming inside.

-Thank you.

-Come, come, come, come right in.

One of the top-most Hollywood star who visited us for him

we had to convert the entire room into a gym.

And he would not eat anywhere in the hotel so we had to set up a dedicated

pantry with all kinds of food which would be served to him from there.

Every VIP who comes in has a customised list of things to do.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

As a hotel, we usually never say no.

-Have a great day.

-Same to you and kindly let me know if you require any assistance.

-Of course I will.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Have a nice day.

I get this room every time I come.

'I have to entertain a lot

'so instead of taking people to a restaurant, it's always so much

'cosier and nicer to have a little dinner over here

'because it's almost like calling someone to your home.'

Kalyani Chawla is the brand ambassador for Christian Dior

in India, and a frequent guest of the hotel.

The Taj with all this attention to detail,

it's just fascinating.

And it's pure luxury more than anything else.

It's just so... It's just so beautiful.

I mean, there was Russell Brand staying in this suite in my bed.

OK, but I'm quite confident that I get better treatment than

Russell Brand.

Yes, I do.

A suite at the hotel costs between £2,000 and £9,000 a night.

I think this is the best part of the suite.

There's, um... It's actually really romantic.

And... Sorry, it's in a mess.

But it's a wardrobe, walk-in there,

and this beautiful bathroom inside.

And when I'm lying down in the bed, I can still see a little bit

out of the windows.

This is my domain.

It does feel like a bachelor pad to me.

This is a party pad, yes.

I can see complete decadence happening here but...

which I refrain from - I'm here on work.

SHE LAUGHS

There's potential.

When Kalyani threw a party to celebrate the launch

of a boutique in the hotel...

..she took over the whole first floor.

We actually transformed the entire section

so we have ripped off the carpets on the grand staircase.

We took over the entire Sea Lounge which before that nobody could do.

And we had imported crockery, cutlery, tablecloths, everything.

In spite of all the unreasonable demands, they not only agreed

but they did such an amazing job.

It is definitely the place to be.

This is the place to be.

In terms of prestige or in terms of a certain

calibre of the kind of hotels that you're expected to stay in,

this is definitely the best. There's no doubt about it.

Space is such a luxury, in Bombay especially.

Everyone's living in little matchboxes

because there is no space.

To come to Bombay

and live in this space, I think... it's beyond just luxury.

It's just absolutely fabulous.

And you look out and you see the sea

because it kind of cuts off everything else below.

And you just have this expanse of water and the boats

and the sun shining.

This is a little mirage in the middle of this city where

it's just a concrete jungle almost.

Since the hotel quietly opened its doors to

just 17 guests in December 1903,

it's been seen as a home away from home for the high society of India.

To begin with, we had very few luxury hotels in the country.

I think it was extremely important

to be seen and people understand it

as synonymous with luxury and history.

The hotel had few rivals when playing host to the stars.

Entertaining everyone from Pierre Cardin to Alfred Hitchcock,

it was the only place to be for the international elite.

We are all extremely attached to it and we all call it

the Grand Old Lady, it's not just a hotel, it's an institution.

But even grand old ladies cannot rest on past glories.

But since 2000, when the Indian economy has been booming,

the landscape of the country is changing.

All over the country there are new five-star hotels which are coming up all the time.

To keep its place on the world stage, the hotel must continue

to court institutions who share an equally illustrious past.

'This is where everyone comes.

'This is where everyone meets from around the world.

'And the Taj, from the very beginning,

'were art collectors and supporters

'and sponsors.'

Hugo Weihe is an international director at Christie's,

the world's oldest and largest auction house.

They're holding their first ever auction in India consisting

solely of Indian art.

We've been working towards this for a long time

so this is a dream come true now

we're on the ground here in India.

With enough millionaires to fill every room in the hotel,

Mumbai is an untapped market for Christie's.

I think this will be a seminal event

and the Taj is really the sort of anchor for it.

For Parveen and his team, an international auction on this

scale is unprecedented.

OK, so Christie's is looking at the prestigious event

and the kind of reputation it has all over the world.

They've chosen this hotel because of its historic significance,

because they find this the right background to do the auction.

It needs to be really handled with care.

Christie's will take over the hotel's two main function

rooms for a week in the run-up to the auction.

'We're doing all sorts of events around it.

'We'll have a reception on Monday and a dinner on Tuesday,

'inviting all the important collectors

'and inspire new collectors here.'

Will they have paintings on both sides? Inside and outside?

They will have paintings all around

and I think they will also have paintings inside.

Just ensure we don't have anybody

walking in there from the hotel who is not supposed to be there.

So just make sure from front and back.

I don't want people trying to have a peek or just trying to walk in.

Same goes for you.

Just make sure your people are very clear who's going to be

allowed to clean up.

By any means, I want to restrict as less

number of people inside the hall as possible.

OK. Thank you.

So that's the book.

It's going to be in my office if anyone wants to have a look at it.

It has some of the best paintings you guys would have seen.

# I want the waiter

# With the water

# I want the waiter with the water for my daughter

# I want the waiter with the water for my daughter

# Cos my daughter has an order

# For some water on the tray. #

-What are you checking?

-The toaster.

Basically, the guest likes to toast the bread.

As per his requirements instead of ordering and waiting.

So we have arranged for a toaster which we'll be

placing in his room before his arrival.

The toast are ready so that proves it's working properly. There we go.

It's perfect.

Whether it's extending Gregory Peck's bed or allowing

President Obama to book the entire hotel...the staff will do

anything to make the hotel a home for their guests.

Listen, guys. I want you to take care of this gentleman.

She was very particular.

He cannot speak and he said, "Have you told the guy I'm deaf?"

I said, "No, I told him you are a Bollywood or Hollywood star."

OK, so there she is and she's all ready to go, please ensure...

Just take good care of them.

For half of the staff,

the hotel has been their home for over 20 years.

Hello there, good evening.

Satish was 18

when he started as a trainee in the hotel's patisserie.

Hello there. How are you, my friend?

Twenty years later, he's Chief Concierge, a role that exists

exclusively to make sure guests get anything and everything they desire.

A concierge is man Friday. He is your magic wand.

Maybe, helicopter ride to the hotel. Possible. I can do that.

'Have somebody play bagpipes at the airport to welcome you, possible.'

Whichever car you like from a sedan to Jaguar to

Bentley, Mercedes S-Class with Wi-Fi inside, possible.

Maybe a glass of champagne, bottle of champagne, possible.

I cannot get you pink elephant. I'll try.

I'll not disappoint you. Elephant is possible.

Great. Thank you.

So that's what we do. We dazzle, we delight.

That's how we engage with our guests and build that connect with them.

And they say concierges are very friendly people.

That's how we enhance that friendship

and it goes into relationship later on.

We have a whole lot of regular guests coming back

and they come and they hug you and that's important.

And that's the satisfaction for me.

Before we got married, we were thinking about getting married and

Pete said, "If we get married, I'll take you all around the world."

And I thought, "Oh, this will be good."

So we've kept on doing it, as much as we can.

For the last 25 years, Suzie and Peter Noble,

have been shipping their classic car from their home in Essex.

Now retired from their business making metal fastenings for jeans,

they drive all over India, often starting and ending at the hotel.

I was like a man Friday for them.

'Liaising all the trip, into the whole of India.'

Head straight down this corridor,

midway through, take the Grand Staircase to first floor.

They got the car all the way up from England over here.

So he could travel around the country and each point he went to,

Gujarat, Udaipur, met some maharajas over there,

he would call me and tell me what to do with the next destination.

Ensure that our car is coming.

Ensure we have enough parking space for them

and that's what I would do for them.

Probably they're my favourite couple of guests ever. I just love them.

It is a little bit British to do it but our interest is, in a way,

the nostalgia and try and catch a fast-changing world.

We set off on a journey through China crossing

the Gobi Desert in a Bentley Continental.

And we stopped on the desert

and a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost passed us driven by a Swiss.

And I said to Suzie, "When we get back home, I'm going to buy

"a car like that.

"But I'm going to buy a Lanchester." She'd never heard of that.

Most people haven't.

The saying used to be in the '20s if you wanted a really good car

you bought a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

But if you want something a little bit better you bought a Lanchester.

Somebody said to us today, "Where have you come from?"

We said, "Britain, England." And they said,

"Where has this car come from?" "England." "Oh, good.

"The British are coming back."

I thought, "I wish they were."

Basically, it's like being a celebrity.

And I hate celebs.

But it's like being a celebrity in this car.

-Look at those playing on the grass, playing horses.

-Yeah, lovely.

There's a feeling of sadness. There's also a feeling of guilt,

where these lovely children living like that,

and frankly, you're living in the Taj.

You feel you don't want to go out into the streets.

You have to and you feel wretched, really.

It's a saddening process.

Sue, I'm going to get to the Taj.

I'm going to go down, put the car to bed.

If you go to the room, Satish will help you.

Thank you, Satish.

In a hotel as old as the Taj, Parveen and

Executive Housekeeper Indrani face

a constant battle to keep up appearances.

Just hold on for another 15 days.

Just give it a coat of paint, let it dry.

We'll do it on, let's say, first week of Feb.

Let's go to 651.

Everywhere from the corridors,

to the 15-room, 5,000-square-foot Tata Suite,

is in need of regular attention.

We've just taken the suite out for maintenance and we're basically...

We don't have any major visit happening here for the next couple

of days so we've just decided to do different kinds of paint finishes.

It's an old building so it needs a bit of massaging every few months.

OK, so this is the state of affairs.

Can I rip it off and do the same colour as this wall?

Hue of slightly silver.

-I'll show you the samples.

-Exactly.

'When we started the hotel 110 years back, our founder was very clear.

'He wanted to make not just any hotel

'but he wanted to make the best hotel in the country.

'You have to continuously keep spending time and money

'and effort on restoring things.

'In the same manner it was 110 years back

'and in certain cases you have to do better.'

And then do a finish which is very similar.

-So it should not be a bright finish.

-Put Scotchgard...

So do a dull finish.

Do a dull finish. Also I think we need fresh painting.

It's a part of us. We can't help it. It's everywhere you go.

There's some issue and when I catch hold of him he knows I'm only

going to come up with issues

-that need to be sorted out.

-That's why I run away from her.

You'll always find me running away from her.

Still she comes to my office and drags me.

Because there are so many issues that need to be sorted out,

alternative suggestions, financial...

They need financial approval and we come up with some...

Housekeeping is like my second passion.

So I like to spend a lot of time because I'm married to a housekeeper.

It's like you know the hotel better than most people know their homes.

-More than that.

-She spends more time at the hotel than she spends at home.

My home gets my attention only on Sundays.

On Sunday, it's no for anything.

Do you do housekeeping at home? No.

Do you do the detailing at home about paint and polish?

I wish I could do that at home but no time, seriously.

I'm a mother and a daughter-in-law and a wife

so all those takes more precedence.

But a little bit of housekeeping comes naturally.

SHE LAUGHS

Whether it's persuading people to spend £9,000 a night

on a hotel suite, or millions on a painting,

presentation is everything.

'We gear up to the days and there's all these steps ahead of it.

'The catalogue is the first major step when we get that into print.

'And it's received by the collectors around the world.

'Now the exhibition is the next major step because this is where

'everyone will be able to see it in person for the first time.'

With Christie's best chance to woo the Indian art world approaching,

Hugo, like Parveen, is a stickler for detail.

'We must be perfectionists and we want to present them

'in the best possible way.

'That includes hanging them straight on the wall,

'having the lighting perfect, the label all at the same height.

'All of this matters because it's that first impression of a work.'

-Well done. It's looking terrific.

-We're getting there.

It was a little bit crowded over there, maybe?

Alongside the art... the hotel will be laying on lavish

parties for potential buyers.

-It's a buffet.

-Buffet and people are circulating now. It's standing.

So you're not doing cutlery, crockery?

No, we're just putting the smaller plates...

-But is the food going to have knives? Will the food need a knife?

-No.

-Sure?

-Yeah.

-We started dinner at 8.15.

-So is it like networking?

-Champagne?

-Wine and champagne.

That's OK from here onwards. These two fill this two spaces which is fine.

But it's a bit tight, that's my only concern. Otherwise this is good.

The centre-piece of the auction is a painting by

"the Indian Rothko"

Vasudeo Gaitonde. Christie's are hoping

it will break the current world record of 3m...

and become the most expensive Indian artwork in history.

It's important to be able to present it in a way that everyone can say,

"Wow. It's fantastic.

"It looks so beautiful. And I could maybe acquire it and maybe have it

"in my house and it will make everything look so wonderful at my house too."

I don't want anybody serving around these paintings.

Tell people to be at least two-three feet away from...

three-four feet away from the main area.

So that you don't even land up in an accident where somebody is

just banging.

-I don't want any accidents. OK, anything else?

-Nothing, sir.

We've been living this life for so long now, couldn't do anything else.

We're always together. Have been ever since we got married.

And it will stay like that.

There's nobody else that I could travel with.

-Nobody else would travel with you.

-No, that's a good point, Sue.

That's a good point.

12 years ago, I had a stroke. Complete left side paralysed.

And from then onwards he's done everything for me.

He has to cut my food, do my hair.

Everything. You can't imagine what he's had to do.

And nobody else would do that, so he's my rock.

We thought she was going to be in a wheelchair for life. Half paralysed.

Everything was dead on the left side

so, therefore, these were dark days for us.

You can't imagine.

Sue was talking about, "I can sit on my balcony and look at my garden."

And I said, "No. We're going to the Sudan.

"We're going to go up the Nile."

It was a big turning point.

And Sue has improved every day since.

And she still supports me.

And she still does her fair share of all the donkey-work where

it can be done.

And I can say no more really.

How did you both get through those dark days?

I can't remember.

I really can't remember.

No.

Excuse me.

Sorry, I can't stand talking about it.

So there you are and...

HE EXHALES

But we turned a corner.

It's the main thing.

'And I often said to Sue, "If anything happened to her,

'"I'd probably come and live here."

'I'd be quite happy to have ten good years with the Lanchester and Suzie.'

Chief Concierge Satish, the Nobles' man Friday,

lives just ten minutes from the hotel with his wife, mother and son.

HE PRAYS

TALKS TO BABY

Come on. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. Very good.

SINGS TO BABY

Sharmila also works at the hotel where they met 15 years ago.

We were selling pastries at Taj.

And that's where our eyes met. Over a Vienna lemon cheesecake.

So, Taj gave me a wife and a son and a nice house to live.

What more can you ask for?

This is my luxury.

This is my Grand Presidential Tata Suite. I hope you like it. Yeah?

BABY GURGLES

HE IMITATES BABY

And do namaste to everybody.

We must do good morning namaste.

Namaste. Yes.

Say, "Thank you for coming.

"Thank you for coming to my house."

Seeing this monumental building, you know, it's like...

"Oh, wow, this is Taj, it's a great big hotel."

I never imagined that I would be ever walking into this hotel.

And, you know, I'm working for that hotel

and at times I wonder when I look outside it's...it's probably

somebody else out over there who is also dreaming to come inside

and work and I have something for them -

it's like, "Dreams do come true.

"The Taj really makes your dream come true."

For the wealthiest in Mumbai,

an exclusive retreat can be found via a private lift in the lobby.

The Chambers is one of the most sought-after business clubs

in the whole of India. Membership is by invitation only.

Consisting of a library, bar, dining and conference rooms,

this is where captains of industry

and the international elite network and broker deals.

Bernard Steinrucke is president of the Indo-German Chamber Of Commerce

and he and his wife Ranjana have been members for the last six years.

When I came, this was my first home in Mumbai.

I had a beautiful suite here on the sixth floor.

Luckily, the hotel took good care of me.

It makes you proud.

You know, it's kind of situates you in a certain time

and place which is rare.

Having grown up in Bombay, it's our first idea, the word posh.

I mean, before you had terms like...

er...over-the-top luxury and things, there was posh

and Taj represented that so it's very associated

with growing up in Bombay and something very special.

It's iconic in that sense.

Sometimes when I'm having lunch here with guests you happen to

bump into some of the celebrities of Mumbai

but they are comfortable here because nobody's bothering them.

Make sure that the grooming of the boys is up to the margin.

Make sure everybody polishes shoes.

And get a lot, the next time, anyone who polishes, just an empty brush

and a liquid polish. Everybody needs to wash their face, gel their hair.

Well, we have exclusive music

even for the members of the Chambers today.

And we've got Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the famous sitar player

Ravi Shankar, who's going to be here tonight.

Hello.

-Hi.

-I just want to say hello, Parveen, deputy manager.

It's a pleasure having you.

And thank you very much for everything in the suite.

We didn't get time to thank you.

Such a pleasure for us to be in there.

It's an honour for us having you stay.

-Thank you, it feels like coming home.

-Great. Thank you.

INDIAN MUSIC PLAYS

The hotel has welcomed some of the world's biggest music icons.

It was the first home of jazz in the city, playing host to the

likes of Duke Ellington.

When George Harrison took up residence,

Anoushka's father, sitar legend Ravi Shankar, taught him

to play in one of the hotel's suites.

Right now, I'm thinking I will change this one.

David Cameron has already replaced Sarkozy

so we want to add Tom Cruise and where's Anoushka's picture?

Anoushka, for sure.

Nikhila is the Hotel's director of public relations.

It's her job to make sure that the hotel

capitalises on its illustrious past.

If you come to Mumbai,

actually, if you come to India and you come anywhere

near the city of Mumbai, this is where you must stay.

Anybody who's anybody has wanted to stay here

and we try to keep it as current as possible so the VIPs that we are

putting up right now have actually visited us in 2013, most of them.

Um, I'm going to be leaving a little space for Tom Cruise

later but, um, that's because I love him.

I think it's about sharing the same space with somebody who is

world famous and world-renowned, so I think it's nice... Sorry? Um...

It's fine now. What do you think? Is it too crushed?

I think you can actually push even Sir Mick Jagger a little down.

And then everything won't be so cramped.

When my dad was first in Mumbai, he used to be a banker.

When he was transferred to Mumbai and I was six years old,

this was my home.

And I remember running around in the corridor singing loudly

and my mother used to be very, very, you know,

she would try to keep me quiet saying, "Please," you know,

"Please, we're out in the lobby," and for me it was my home.

I thought everybody lived in such lavish, beautiful homes.

We just go and do random checking of the rooms basically.

So, what happens is, on a daily basis,

we take about four or five rooms.

The rooms are chosen at random at the last minute.

We spend about an hour, we've got

six to eight people who go on the floor.

Put it back.

So you have one guy would check the air conditioning,

there'd be somebody who would check the plumbing.

Then the housekeeper, so she also has her team of people, there's

one helper who has to strip the room, maybe one supervisor, then we

get somebody from in-room dining to see the glasses and all that.

Moeed usually comes and checks the room along with us,

in terms of all the other detailing.

There are some water stains, there's some kind of staining, so...

Write it on, please.

And because if you need to check a room in 10 minutes,

you need that number of people to just

kind of completely strip everything and do that.

You do four to five rooms a day.

Why are we laminating these?

-Because they're getting everything on, will stain.

-No, no, no.

-Can't have lamination, please.

-They're at side table every day.

No lamination.

You go for a better quality if you think staining is an issue

you go for a non-stain finish, but no lamination, please.

Tell Nikhila to get you better quality. Yeah? No lamination.

Yeah?

We're supposed to be giving the best to our guests as far as hygiene,

cleanliness and maintenance is concerned.

And that is why they're coming to us

and they're not going to any other smaller hotel.

Housekeeping.

But you've got to look exactly the way a guest would have seen

the room so you have to get into every corner.

You know, you'll find dust in certain places.

You will find small marks on things and

that's about getting your people to see, so you've got to see yourself.

You know, it has to be perfect, so you've got to give a guest

zero defection by all means.

And it takes a huge amount of hard work

an eye for detail to reach zero defect, so that's what

the team's job is.

What do you check?

Hmm? What do you check when you come to the room?

When this was introduced, you didn't see the size is not up to the mark?

-They said they were changing it...

-It's not a matter of changing.

Why didn't you see it?

Abbas, it's your responsibility, this is your part of the room,

so then you're supposed to see it.

With the imminent arrival of the art elite, Nikhila has

called in the Hotel's art consultant to make the most of their collection.

So just take this but very carefully, huh?

Lift it from one side and you lift it from the other and just hold it.

We just want to see how it looks.

You know, the hotel has the most exquisite art but

the guests who are coming, of course, know art, they love art.

They may not be able to see these because these pieces are hidden

in suites or in lounge so we thought let's bring the pieces to them.

So, we're lining the pathway for the entrance with masterpieces.

So they'll have masterpieces inside and outside.

Within the hotel's collection are some of the most important pieces

of modern Indian art, including four paintings by Gaitonde.

And it's perfect.

In the late 1950s, a group of new modern artists emerged in India,

many of whom were supported by the Tata family who owned

the hotel.

They found an outlet in the hotel's gallery space.

A lot of these artists actually came and stayed in this hotel and painted.

We used to have an art gallery here, where a lot of these painters

would come and sell their art pieces and the hotel would buy them.

Put it down, hold it from the base. Only from the base.

Don't hold it up. Don't hold it up.

So, we have some of the most beautiful collection of Indian

contemporary art.

Be careful because otherwise you'll hit the wall.

Now, go up.

Up, up, up, up.

Many of the artworks being sold at the Christie's

auction are by this same group of artists.

So, the Gaitonde painting is one of our most important

paintings in the entire collection,

possibly the most important, so the fact that we brought it out

and putting it here is a huge deal.

VS Gaitonde is arguably the most famous abstract artist

the country has ever produced.

They are going to be showing a light on the old ones,

personally, I think ours is perfect, but I'm biased.

How much is it worth?

It's priceless!

SHE LAUGHS

I'm going to see from the other side to see if it's straight.

If the auction is a success,

the value of the works in the hotel will increase substantially.

It looks lovely. It's really nice. It looks like it was always there.

I'm very happy with it.

I'll just have to get that spotlight down and...

It's like it was meant to be there.

Good afternoon, I'm Steven Murphy, Chief Executive of Christie's.

Thank you so much for coming.

It's actually an auspicious moment today,

but we're here announcing this great moment for Christie's

on the same day as the 110th anniversary of this great building,

this great institution of this hotel that we're part of.

So we're very excited to be showcasing

all of this wonderful art

to all of our clients around the world in the same moment.

Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Indian modern art has been doing well over the last 10-15 years,

but the market has been overseas with New York and London and...

But not in India.

What's nice about this particular auction

is that it's almost like they're coming back to India.

It's their return.

'Well, The Taj is the sort of iconic hotel in India.

'So it is the appropriate place for a high-end art event.

'And Christie's and The Taj, they're good brands.'

Two big brands, fighting it out for attention.

We have to carry on this event much better than their expectations,

so actually not just meet their expectations,

rather exceed the expectations.

'This is a combination of perfection and eye for detail.'

And it falls to Parveen's team

to make sure that nothing is overlooked.

So basically it's a seven-course sit-down dinner.

Chef has crafted the menu, which is there.

As of now, they have not told us how they want this printed.

Have another paper one?

No, that's what I'm saying. I want to use the one we did for...

No, no, not the school one... Sorry, I'm getting mixed up,

-that other one with the antique look. Was old.

-No, it's here.

It's right here.

It has a nice archival look

and it goes with the whole feeling that we're trying to create.

You can do either burnt insert or just do regular,

you don't have to go with the burnt insert.

-No?

-Yeah.

So do this outer. So you know the size now that you need to make.

'It is a opportunity for us on the international stage.'

I mean, it's the first time Christie's is coming to India

for an auction and they've chosen The Taj,

so from that perspective it's huge.

-How many lots are there?

-18.

-18.

He's supposed to be in now, so I think we should move to the venue.

To ensure the auction is a success,

the team is planning every last detail...

..something head of food and beverage Mehr knows all about.

Can we just have them organised properly? And you put little tags...

-Certainly, ma'am.

-..that says exactly which item

-and what is the bar stock you're going to maintain.

-Fine, ma'am.

Because, as discussed last time, my biggest concern is that you guys

do it once and then after two weeks again we have to come and check it.

It should not be like that. Have a proper check list.

Also, make a check list here on the wall, which clearly says what are

the items you will be stocking and what quantities you intend to put.

'I mean, we keep checking and checking and checking.'

Each time you check, you find something new.

I don't want all this, you know,

Why? This is typically happening,

because again you're not doing what I had told you last time.

'That's the only way to reach perfection,'

is to keep challenging yourself to find something else to correct.

So the idea is to be as organised and clean, so at one shout,

the butler comes running, he sees it, and says

"OK, my coasters, my this."

Ideally, you should be able to just see it and do it,

but still a tag would be beneficial

and you should write down the exact quantity...

'That is the idea. We're constantly fine-tuning

'till you reach that level of perfection'

or till the guest arrives.

You need to keep coming,

it's not like we do it once and we don't, you know, go back to check it.

Yeah? And you guys are here every day,

so I expect that you will check all this every day.

-Your new cupboard has come, huh?

-Yes, ma'am.

Engagement tools cupboard. OK.

Good. I think we'll say that's it for now.

With a few days to go before the auction itself,

the seduction of Mumbai's elite is well under way.

This event was supposed to be 400 to 450.

It's now become I think a little more than that.

But we've got the who's who of the city, you know.

Pretty much a good mix of socialite and industrial,

so it's been going smooth so far.

-So which painting are we heading for?

-All of them.

All of them?! My God.

Too many zeros, no? But zero has no value.

THEY LAUGH

I love that. I love the use of colours. It's a happy painting.

It'll really work well in my home. 162,000-243,000.

So I'm worried about what that might end up at the auction.

So am I. Yeah.

I have a couple of head waiters and one or two managers,

who are only looking out for the VVIP people and when I say VVIP,

it's not to say that the others aren't important,

but it's more to say that we're looking out for the people

who are used to us normally really pampering them.

There are certain spots which are the one where you go

and you know you're going to meet half of the world.

You are showing that you have the power to buy something,

you were there. It's a prestige.

This place, the Taj, you can meet...

..I don't know, everybody in the world is going through,

so I've met a lot of people there -

Madonna, Gerard Butler, Salman Rushdie.

Every person in the world who is known

wants to go in the Taj, nowhere else.

I would not be there if it was not the best.

MUSIC: "Traces Of You" by Anoushka Shankar

Here in Mumbai,

one big difference from all of the other places in India

is money is more important than anything else.

What you see in the Taj

are only rich women.

But you don't know from where they come.

They don't look at your caste.

Money is money and that's a very big thing in Mumbai.

# Traces of you

# Linger like a teardrop

# Fresh upon the air

# My heart sings for you

# Play me like a rain cloud

# Sounds upon the air. #

APPLAUSE

At these levels, when you're talking about million-dollar pictures,

there's only a handful of buyers at any given time,

so, yes, we will see lots of diamonds and emeralds.

I think that what we'll see tonight...

..is, because it's a live sale

and it's a chance for people to show off a little bit,

especially when you're bidding in the room

and you can see the actual bidders,

people do lose their inhibitions, perhaps,

and they do lock horns.

These battles do emerge

and I imagine that within the Mumbai social network,

there's going to be quite a lot of that.

You look amazing.

-You have your card?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Buonasera.

-Buonasera.

Welcome to all of you. Welcome to all of you,

whether you're on Christie's Live or here at the Taj Mahal.

Lot number one of a historic Christie's sale in Mumbai.

Shall we start this at seven lakhs? seven lakhs 50. Eight lakhs, sir.

Gentleman flying in from England. nine lakhs...

You can tell when someone's about to bid.

They start shuffling their feet or they go quiet.

-Lot number one, sold!

-APPLAUSE

If one of the billionaires starts bidding

and he's bidding in the room, I don't think they'll let it go.

Because there's that element of...

..well, pride, I suppose.

Sir, it's yours.

Thank you, sir.

Lot number 63,

a Vasudeo Gaitonde from 1979.

I can start this here at 3.5 crores.

After a week where Christie's and the Taj

have been courting the Mumbai art scene,

the success of the event would largely be judged

on whether one lot breaks a world record.

At 8.5.

Going on?

Currently, that stands at 3 million.

Here now at 9, 9.5.

At 9.5.

10, Damian's in at 10 crores here now. 11 crores.

12, I have.

14. Sandhya, you're in - new bidder at 14.

Sandhya's bid. Holding with Sandhya. 15, I have.

Coming in? 15 is here.

500 if you like.

Will you take 15.5?

Yes, I will. Thank you.

16.

Back to Diki now at 16 crores.

Small step for you. Big step for Gaitonde.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

-16.5.

-16.5, well done.

17 crores.

At 17.

Small steps. 17 and a half!

18, Diki.

Sonam?

Sure?

You've said that before.

18 is with Diki.

At 18.

0.5?

18.5

19 crores.

This close now.

Sonam, you've come this close. We're this close now.

19 crores. 19.5.

19.5.

One more deep breath.

20 crores.

-Well done.

-GASPING AND APPLAUSE

20.5.

At 20.5.

Sure, Diki?

Final, final call. Thank you.

And, Sonam, you have it at 20 and a half crores.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Sold!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well done, thank you, both.

The day I was moving into this hotel

I was called by my executive director of operations and he said,

"Just remember one thing, and that is that this is everybody's Taj."

Today, when I sit back and think about it,

I understand what he meant.

It basically meant that everyone in this city,

everyone in this country

feels an emotional attachment to this institution.

Everybody has a kind of fond memory which is connected to the hotel.

People have lived here, people have grown here, got married here,

so it's a hotel which lives in the memories of people.

Everyone knows that having a wedding at the Taj

is obviously expensive.

When you see the Taj on a wedding invitation,

you obviously think that this is a great family.

INDIAN MUSIC PLAYS