0:00:03 > 0:00:05Mumbai...
0:00:05 > 0:00:06INDIAN MUSIC PLAYS
0:00:06 > 0:00:08..the biggest city in India.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Steeped in culture...
0:00:13 > 0:00:15..and in tradition.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21It's home to one of the oldest and grandest hotels in the world,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24The Taj Mahal Palace.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29It's beyond just luxury.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34You know, this is this...mirage in the middle of this city.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Famed for its opulent ballrooms...
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..and obsessive attention to detail.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48For India's elite,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50The Taj has always been THE place to get married.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53It's where people meet to fall in love.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54LAUGHTER
0:00:56 > 0:00:58How was I proposed to?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Well, there have been three proposals in the past! SHE LAUGHS
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But with everyone wanting their wedding to stand out from the crowd...
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Let's not compromise quality.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Let's not compromise.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15..the hotel must strive to meet ever-increasing demands.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20This is India and we frankly don't say no to anything.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36CAR HORN
0:01:36 > 0:01:38MUSIC: Spring Cleaning by Fats Waller
0:01:43 > 0:01:44# Polish the leaves
0:01:44 > 0:01:45# Make 'em green again
0:01:45 > 0:01:47# Shake out the trees
0:01:47 > 0:01:48# Change the scene again
0:01:48 > 0:01:50# Spring cleaning
0:01:50 > 0:01:52# Getting ready for love... #
0:01:52 > 0:01:54The food and beverage department
0:01:54 > 0:01:57accounts for over half the hotel's revenue.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03And Mehr is one of their youngest managers.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The food and beverage operation at The Taj Mahal Palace
0:02:07 > 0:02:09is actually the largest in the country.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13We are an operation that has 500 staff members.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18It would be close to 1,000-1,500 meals a day.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Mehr runs a team of 12 managers...
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- Good morning, everyone. ALL:- Good morning.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27..who oversee the eight restaurants, two bars and ten banquet rooms.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30OK, let's start going through the numbers.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Each day she calls a meeting to discuss sales figures and targets.
0:02:35 > 0:02:41- So, as of now, against a target of 16.38 you're on 11.62.- Yes, ma'am.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45And your daily average is actually below what it needs to be
0:02:45 > 0:02:47- in order to gain an incentive?- Yes, ma'am.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50So your team is not getting an incentive this month.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- So what are we going to do about it? - We'll pick it up.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55We are just off by almost 2,000 rupees only.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- 2,000 per day, my dear.- Yes.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00So if you talk about it, you are really, really off.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03So you need to have a concrete plan over the next eight days
0:03:03 > 0:03:05if you want to go on the positive side.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Let's move on with the next department. You start.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I think being in the middle of a man's world
0:03:12 > 0:03:15is actually...
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It has... It's been difficult getting here,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19but I quite honestly think that once you are here
0:03:19 > 0:03:21it's just about performance.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23I think that's what I've been telling all of you,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25one big-ticket item can change
0:03:25 > 0:03:28your entire, entire scope of how things run.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30And big wines, come on.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33You've got sake sitting in the store worth 15 lakhs,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36so, please, start picking it up and selling it.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But you have to constantly...
0:03:39 > 0:03:44you know, be a little more aggressive than what you might be inherently.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46More than anything, between both of you,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49I want the bar snacks revisited in the hotel.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Your snack selection is fairly sad,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53so I would like you to relook at it,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56come back to me with suggestions. See what is available in the market.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59A little more salty, makes you want to drink more.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02So accordingly, please, look at your options.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06And, please, don't get me three types of olives, yeah?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08So...get something interesting.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Every year the hotel hosts hundreds of weddings
0:04:15 > 0:04:19for the elite families of Mumbai...
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Chef, Mehr.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26Sea Lounge. We're removing the two centre chandeliers.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28..and Mehr's food and beverage department
0:04:28 > 0:04:30is responsible for making them happen.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34OK, so the round one is closer to the window side? OK.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Tomorrow we have a really big wedding event for 800-1,000 people.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40OK. Thanks. Thanks.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44The Sea Lounge is going to be the dessert lounge.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48So, essentially, we're going to remove the main chandelier
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and put up these huge suspended acrylic, you know, sheets,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55which are going to carry the entire dessert buffet.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01It is difficult to keep thinking differently for each person.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05You know, when a guest just says, "I leave it to you," and is willing to pay anything for it,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I think then for us as well, you know, there is no limit
0:05:08 > 0:05:11to how you need to think about it and what you need to do.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So there really are no limits. And for us, guest is God.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17We put forward whatever we can for them.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19So that's how it is.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24When money is no object, everything is examined
0:05:24 > 0:05:27to see what can be better or different
0:05:27 > 0:05:31and there's one area on which a wedding will stand or fall -
0:05:31 > 0:05:32the food.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I mean, that's Chef's forte,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37he always comes up with something new for each guest.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39And this is something very unique.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46A wedding is all about fun, sometimes one-upmanship
0:05:48 > 0:05:53You'll have the fresh foie gras, you'll have the caviar...
0:05:53 > 0:05:57and you'll have the truffles, the lobsters and the crabs.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01We don't have one-day ceremonies,
0:06:01 > 0:06:06we have about five, six or ten days at times, ten-day ceremonies.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11Depending on your pocket, how much you can afford.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Can we ask Sheeta to just polish this?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16This is like...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- It's clean but it's not polished, if she can just shine it up.- OK.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Everyone knows that having a wedding at The Taj
0:06:23 > 0:06:26is, you know, obviously expensive.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31And automatically when you see The Taj on a wedding invitation,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35you obviously think that this is, you know, a great family.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47All in all, I think this one is totally done, there's no problem,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49just get these ladders out of here.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50OK?
0:06:50 > 0:06:52That's it.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Each family wants their wedding to be different from what they've seen earlier.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01We never get guests who tell us, "I remember seeing that format and I like it and please use it."
0:07:01 > 0:07:07We, actually, always get guests that say, "We've seen these formats, show us something else."
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And that's always the difficulty,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13in trying to create something new each time, for each event, for each family,
0:07:13 > 0:07:20trying to live up to that expectation of getting something which is unique.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26- Are we taking now only the Crystal Room?- No.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Arshad told us to keep the Boiler Room as well as the Crystal Room.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32We will give them an option and then they'll decide.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36With 38 billion spent on weddings in India last year,
0:07:36 > 0:07:37the catering sales department
0:07:37 > 0:07:40has to make sure families keep coming back to the hotel.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Mahtaab is meeting the Karvat and Mehta families
0:07:46 > 0:07:49to discuss the final details of their wedding.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52It's a two-day event.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56We have a Sangeet function, which is for around 400-440 people.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00The wedding is for around 400 people.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03And the wedding reception is over 700-800 people.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- This is my son, Parth.- Yes, I already met him.- Yes, we met.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Parth, Rittika and their families
0:08:09 > 0:08:14all want their wedding to live up to the billing.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- OK.- So should we start from the 22nd event?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21OK, yeah.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23It's a big wedding with us,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26giving us a minimum revenue of around 35 lakhs.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28How much is 35 lakhs?
0:08:28 > 0:08:3035 lakhs is how many?
0:08:33 > 0:08:363.5 million rupees.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- So that's £35,000, isn't it?- Yes.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Last time we were talking about that, you know,
0:08:42 > 0:08:47for the food you're going to serve in a ballroom, if it's not booked.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48If the ballroom is available,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52we will be willing enough to offer to you because it's nicer,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54but at the same time...
0:08:54 > 0:08:56What's the biggest spend on a wedding in Taj?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It was 4.5 crores plus taxes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Plus the rooms which was about 80 lakhs, I think.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- That's hundreds of thousands? - Exactly.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I think what is happening is that all those people
0:09:09 > 0:09:14- who are coming in Taj, they're coming with great expectations.- I'm sure.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18There are so many marriages happening around,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23so when they come here they should feel it, "Oh, this is something great!"
0:09:23 > 0:09:27That's the only difference we have to make.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31There is a lot of competition within the social, you know,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34within the social life itself.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37If I'm calling one celebrity, they'll call two celebrities
0:09:37 > 0:09:40for their event to make their function a little more hyped.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Because of the heritage and because of so many memories
0:09:48 > 0:09:51which are there were all the guests, they keep coming.
0:09:54 > 0:09:5928 years ago Parth's parents, Ambrish and Yujita,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02had their own wedding in the hotel's Crystal Room.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07We can do sushi but that would be at an additional cost.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- OK.- Is that something...?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22LAUGHTER
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Theirs was an arranged marriage.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33The first introduction took place in the Sea Lounge at the hotel.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38We came here and met each other
0:10:38 > 0:10:41and talked for a little bit more than one and a half hours
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and tried to exchange information about each other.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Then we thought, "Yeah, this seems to be a right partner."
0:10:48 > 0:10:51And then we met in this room.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56Then we have a kind of a courtship period for a couple of months.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59We got engaged in February
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and then we got married here in the Crystal Room in May.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05It's always a little bit difficult,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08because you are just engaged to a person for three months,
0:11:08 > 0:11:13you don't know the family members or your husband-to-be very well.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16After marriage you are expected to live in an extended family,
0:11:16 > 0:11:21so you expected to do a lot of adjustment
0:11:21 > 0:11:27and fit into the family ways and how they live together.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39And so when I went down the stairs, I was crying
0:11:39 > 0:11:44and I was very sad that, "OK, now I'm going to stay with my husband in a new house."
0:11:46 > 0:11:48You are going into something
0:11:48 > 0:11:53where there are too many things which are not exactly clear to you.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55But that's how it is.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58But there's a lot of not only emotions,
0:11:58 > 0:12:04but there is a kind of prestige and status also which goes with Taj.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08So when you are getting married at Taj, you know, people...
0:12:08 > 0:12:12You get this, "Wow! That's a great place!" Like that, yeah.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21We need additionally two chicken grilled sandwiches
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and we need tandoori chicken now.
0:12:24 > 0:12:30So whatever version of it, chicken tikka, but you just do it quickly.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Chicken tikka? I'll send you the message,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37I think it's only one portion of the chicken tikka, but two portions of the grilled...
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Yeah, yeah. But he's saying urgent. I don't know how urgent. Yeah? Bye.
0:12:41 > 0:12:47This is an emergency order for a minister who's kind of getting out of a cabinet meeting,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50so that happens sometimes because Mantralaya is right next door,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53which is where all the government meetings happen.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56So sometimes we get these emergency orders
0:12:56 > 0:12:59that so-and-so is leaving from a meeting to another meeting,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02so give us quickly something packed so that they can eat it in the car.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05So that's exactly what's happening right now.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I was five when I walked into the hotel, actually.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Every few minutes you have to step out of the outlet and check this.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18OK.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I had moved to Mumbai from a small town called Pune,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24which was just about four hours from here at that time.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26You're supposed to come out and check it.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29There's exactly one way it goes, this goes in diamond shape,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31this goes as a square. Yeah?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34So, please, keep an eye on this.
0:13:34 > 0:13:40So we walked in really scared and we went to the grand staircase.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43I will never forget that moment,
0:13:43 > 0:13:48when I looked up the grand staircase at the beautiful blue dome.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52And I remember thinking, even as tiny as I was,
0:13:52 > 0:13:56I remember thinking to myself that, you know, "I want to own this place."
0:13:59 > 0:14:04Mehr spends at least 12 hours a day, 6 days a week in the hotel.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Please, let's not have this, huh?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12There is a standard font size.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15This is incorrect because you've got this in bold.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19This is incorrect because you didn't have an explanation and it's not even the same font size.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Every tag out of the six is different.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25So since you've just taken over the first thing you will do...
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It's a different life,
0:14:27 > 0:14:32but at the same time it's a life you wouldn't want to change for anything.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33I mean, it's contagious.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Once you get used to it, you just don't feel like doing anything else.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41I mean, it's the way...it's the way we've all become.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54The hotel is more of a home.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Your friends are here, your entire life is the hotel.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08The hotel is a home away from home for staff.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Many have left the villages of their birth to work here.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- Good afternoon, everyone. ALL:- Good afternoon.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Today, arrivals, we have 37 for the evening.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Departures 26 and house count will be 199 people in house.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Guests of room number 641 who checked out on 17th,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36we have got the excellent feedback.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37I'll just read the comment.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41"Special thanks to Manush for his help, he was amazing in his work,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44"he never let us worry about our plans and further travelling worries.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48"Everything was just so smooth done by him." So great job, Manush.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- Thank you. - APPLAUSE
0:15:50 > 0:15:53And now if you can share what all you have done for the guest?
0:15:53 > 0:15:57It's, basically, I just met those guests in the evening every time
0:15:57 > 0:15:59and just checked for their plans.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01They didn't have any fixed itinerary, basically,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04so I told them, "Let me just plan an itinerary for you."
0:16:04 > 0:16:06- So complete leisure.- Complete leisure.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11So starting from cocktails, till the dinner, till cognac and till next day's shopping.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- Oh, that's great.- And during the time of checkout,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16I made sure that the flight is confirmed,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20the seats are booked, the car arrangement was done properly.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Oh, that's brilliant.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28As far as the VIP movements are concerned for the day, we have...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31a few regular guests coming back again.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- Great.- Dana Gillespie is a blues singer
0:16:34 > 0:16:37who's been coming to the hotel for over 30 years.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39SHE SIGHS
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Wonderful! Home, home, home!
0:16:41 > 0:16:45And a view over my favourite view.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Truly my favourite view.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51How fabulous.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54She's here with her piano player for a performance in the hotel.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- That's your room. - SHE SIGHS
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Yes!
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Yes!
0:17:02 > 0:17:04SHE SIGHS
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Happy bunny I am.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Totally happy.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Yeah!
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Joaquin, come and have a look at the bed.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18I could have a foot... No, a cricket team in here if I wanted.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- Too late.- Too late! And at my age, I can't be bothered.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- I might have done in the old days. - THEY LAUGH
0:17:27 > 0:17:29During the '60s and '70s,
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Dana performed and recorded with the likes of David Bowie and Mick Jagger
0:17:34 > 0:17:37and appeared in numerous films and stage productions.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Yeah, definitely cool.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42And now onto the bed.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
0:17:47 > 0:17:49SHE SIGHS
0:17:49 > 0:17:51So totally over the top.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53I love excess.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54SHE LAUGHS
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Of course, they always say if you've got to ask the price of something,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00then you're not rich enough to stay here.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02INDISTINCT
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Oh, I hear somebody on the bell. Better go.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Maybe it's somebody exciting, wouldn't that be nice. Let's see.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13A suite at the hotel can cost anything from £2,000-£9,000 a night.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- Ready to get this chocolate... - I've been caught.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Well, I know, you know me and chocolates. Yippee.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Put it right there. It's something I can look forward...
0:18:22 > 0:18:24You all right, then?
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- My pleasure.- Thanks very much.- My pleasure.- Bye.- Bye.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- SHE SIGHS - Service!
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Bye. Look at that, chocolates on demand!
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Cheers!
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Musicians don't usually stay in this kind of splendour.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45And, you know, when you encounter it,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48it makes you feel so fabulous
0:18:48 > 0:18:51that I think your life just goes better.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Although, I know full well if I step outside the door here,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58I'm into the mad markets of Colaba and hustle and bustle.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02But here it's like a sanctuary for the soul.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05This is the edge of two worlds
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and when you come in here you're cocooned.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13It used to be that this whole area of Calaba around The Taj
0:19:13 > 0:19:16was the inner circle of Bombay.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21A bit like being, I suppose, Knightsbridge, Kensington...Chelsea,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24that kind of thing in London would be this thing.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28But now it's all shifted to Bandra where the new money is,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30where the film stars are.
0:19:32 > 0:19:33It's all very nice,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38but I kind of like this old-fashioned British area around here.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The moment you walk through the front doors of The Taj,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49it's like, for me anyway, I've come home,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53the arms are out, it holds you close,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56you're nestled in glorious luxury.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00I've never ever had a bad time here.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03I just feel joy the moment I walk in the doors.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13I was actually in India when the terrorist attack happened.
0:20:13 > 0:20:20It hurt me. It was almost like my child, my family was being attacked.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And this building shouldn't be hurt by anyone,
0:20:24 > 0:20:29it should be nurtured and loved, which is what I do with it.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32You know, I go into great hotels all over the world,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35but this is the most special to my heart.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39And will remain so till my dying day.
0:20:45 > 0:20:51The 1,500 staff must be constantly at the ready for whoever is coming to dinner.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Morning, chef.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Good morning. Good morning.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Good morning. Good morning.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20While the Chief Justice might be the host of the evening,
0:21:20 > 0:21:24please don't end up serving him last. OK?
0:21:26 > 0:21:31The Bombay High Court is hosting a dinner in honour of the President of India.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34So it's a sit-down dinner for about 100 people.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36That's the excitement for today.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Second last from your side. Second from your side.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47It's slightly towards the flowers.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52I think you reach the stage only once you know you've done the detailing so many times.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Yes. Now the third one is slightly towards the chair.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59We're fairly confident that, you know, it's all going right.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00INDISTINCT
0:22:01 > 0:22:03HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:22:05 > 0:22:08The hotel has a team of 250 chefs.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Many have been here all their working lives.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I'm from a family of Taj.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18My father started working here in '71.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21My mum started working here in '73.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24They got married in '75.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Their best man used to work here,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29the maid of honour used to work here.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34And... So this is the only life I have always known.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39SHE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:22:44 > 0:22:48When I joined we had a master chef,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51who had already worked in this company for about 50 odd years.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57In his 40 years at the hotel, Chef Oberoi has cooked for everyone
0:22:57 > 0:23:02from Margaret Thatcher and Barack Obama to Liz Hurley and Sharon Stone.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07You know, this hotel is different, we work like a family.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09More or less I have seen the generations here.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15For me, the chefs are like children, young children.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18They are like cheese and wine.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22They mature more with the times.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29My boss, he doesn't need to shout. He just comes in and stands.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30SHE LAUGHS
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And you can hear... It's pin-drop silence.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36He doesn't shout, he doesn't scream, he doesn't do any of those things.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41He doesn't use verbal abuse, nothing.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46He just comes and he just stands. He tells us this is what he wants.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51And that's it. Somehow it just gets done. It's like a miracle.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57He takes care of us that way.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00So in return, we have absolutely no issue
0:24:00 > 0:24:03putting in those few hours, putting in that little bit extra.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06No problems at all doing it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16I mean, of course, we fight and we crib and we bitch
0:24:16 > 0:24:19and we complain and we do everything that happens at home.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21It's just like that.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25Because right now, this evening, we are going to require
0:24:25 > 0:24:27a lot of people to do a lot of things,
0:24:27 > 0:24:32so everybody is going to come from somewhere or other to help us
0:24:32 > 0:24:37so everybody has got a small job to do and all the small, small jobs
0:24:37 > 0:24:40get taken care of, the big job just becomes easy.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45As well as banquets and restaurants, the kitchens are on stand-by
0:24:45 > 0:24:48for requests at any time, day or night.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52In-room dining. Good evening. May I assist you?
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Yes, sir. What would you like to have?
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Do you have anything particular in mind, sir?
0:24:58 > 0:25:03In-room dining takes in excess of 170 orders every 24 hours.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Definitely, ma'am. To drink, ma'am,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09you'd like to have a fresh lemon soda sweet and a Diet Coke, ma'am?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Thank you for calling in-room dining.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14The time right now on the watch is 9.10. Just allow my steward
0:25:14 > 0:25:18to reach your room within 40 minutes' time or soon as it's ready, ma'am.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Yes, ma'am, I'm sending it right away. Thank you for calling.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Anyone who wants food brought to their room talks to Janice.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Our voice must be pleasant because we are here
0:25:35 > 0:25:37to talk to the guests because the guests are gods
0:25:37 > 0:25:39they are looking after us.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41This has gone, 363?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44There was a lady who said, "You've got such a beautiful voice,
0:25:44 > 0:25:49"I want to see you how you look." I spoke to my boss and he said, "Go."
0:25:49 > 0:25:50So the lady said,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53"I just wanted to know who was the one with the beautiful voice
0:25:53 > 0:25:56"and I'm so happy I met you. Whenever you speak on the phone,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58"it's so cheerful, it's so nice, I feel very happy."
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Tom Cruise has stayed with us.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Hillary Clinton has stayed with us.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Everybody had gathered in the main lobby
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and we gave a warm greeting to Mrs Clinton.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12It was really very nice.
0:26:12 > 0:26:13Move, move, move.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19We even had this actress who has got six kids.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Her husband is famous. I think he's a football player. He's the first...
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Actually, I'm very bad at names, I'm so sorry.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29I forgot. What was that actress?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33DIALLING TONE
0:26:35 > 0:26:38There was an actress who was staying in Taj.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40She had six kids, all of different descent.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Chinese and all that thing.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Angela Jolie. Thank you.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Brad Pitt. Angela Jolie.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51So these people, what they do, they don't come from the main entrance,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53they always come from the back entrance.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57So that's the time when I saw her, face-to-face, and looked really good.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Replace it and just leave that.
0:27:23 > 0:27:28Mostly in India people settle down between the age of 23 to 29.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30We're lucky to have met each other at a time when both of us
0:27:30 > 0:27:32wanted to settle down in life.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34So it was very...
0:27:36 > 0:27:37We met at the gym.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Yeah.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44And I saw her at the gym and I just felt like going
0:27:44 > 0:27:46and saying hello to her.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53Unlike their parents, Rittika and Parth's marriage was not arranged.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54But tradition is still important.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59We were very confident ourselves that, you know, because
0:27:59 > 0:28:01when we met each other and spoke to each other,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04we were judging each other...
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- I didn't know that! - Judging each other in the sense...
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- Keeping our parents' expectations in mind.- Yeah.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15So I was not only looking for what only I want,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19but what also my family wants out of my wife.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21It was very easy for us to convince our parents
0:28:21 > 0:28:24because we had already done the thinking on behalf of them.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27After the wedding,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Rittika will live with Parth in his parents' family home.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Tonight, basically, we're trying to put all the dances together
0:28:35 > 0:28:38We have a sequence of dances for the sangeet.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40This is Indian dances, Bollywood dances.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44INDIAN MUSIC PLAYS
0:28:54 > 0:28:58INDIAN SONG PLAYS
0:29:13 > 0:29:17My parents got married at Taj 28 years ago,
0:29:17 > 0:29:18so every time it's their
0:29:18 > 0:29:22wedding anniversary, we go there and have a family dinner together.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25So I thought it would be a great idea to introduce my parents
0:29:25 > 0:29:27to Rittika on that day.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29PEOPLE CHATTER
0:29:29 > 0:29:31Left, right.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34HE SINGS
0:29:45 > 0:29:50- "Are you nervous?"- No.- We're not. I'm not.- I'm not either.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51Why aren't you nervous?
0:29:51 > 0:29:54That's everyone's favourite question - "Are you nervous?"
0:29:54 > 0:29:56And I'm, like, "Why should I be nervous?
0:29:56 > 0:29:59"I know who I'm getting married to and I really like her.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01"I want to settle down with her. I love her."
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- I'm actually looking forward to it. - Why should I be nervous about it?
0:30:04 > 0:30:07I'm just excited. And we're looking forward to it.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22- Taj has kind of like been a lucky place where...- Yeah.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- Yeah.- A lot of...- A lot of things... - ..have worked out for us.
0:30:25 > 0:30:26..have worked out for the better.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29And now we're getting married there, so it's a great thing. Yeah.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Weddings are not only celebrated in the hotel, they're also made there.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44The Sea Lounge, the original home of high tea in Mumbai,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47is where an establishment families have gathered
0:30:47 > 0:30:49to arrange marriages for generations.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00The hotel is gorgeous. It's just really outstanding.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04We know it's very famous
0:31:04 > 0:31:08and I just found out that it's where people meet to fall in love.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10LAUGHTER
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- Is that what brought you here?- No!
0:31:12 > 0:31:14I just found out about it today.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18This is delicious. Can I come back tomorrow and have another one?
0:31:18 > 0:31:24- Well, she's had her dessert first.- I have. Life's short.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25Eat dessert first.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Well, we need to get their check
0:31:28 > 0:31:32and go back to the hotel for cocktail hour.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38- With milk?- No, thank you. - No milk?- No, thanks.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41In an arranged marriage, the boy and the girl meet for the first time
0:31:41 > 0:31:45under a supervised setting with both their families present.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49And the Sea Lounge, for some reason, has always held that position.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54How was I proposed to?
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Well, they have been three proposals, if you must!
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Since you're asking.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05And the first one was indeed at the Sea Lounge,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08where before I could sit myself down and order a cup of tea,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10I was asked whether I'd be interested
0:32:10 > 0:32:12in marrying the gentleman,
0:32:12 > 0:32:18which was rather abrupt and I said, "Can we just order some tea?"
0:32:18 > 0:32:21And I need to... You know what they say, "Stay calm and have more tea."
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Shobhaa De was in her early teens
0:32:27 > 0:32:30when her father first brought her to the hotel.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33She was spotted by a modelling scout
0:32:33 > 0:32:37and is now one of the most famous women in India.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39I could not have imagined at 14
0:32:39 > 0:32:43that I would ever, ever step into the Taj,
0:32:43 > 0:32:47because the Taj was like a mirage that all of us in Mumbai,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51those of us who weren't rich rich and couldn't afford to walk in
0:32:51 > 0:32:54would have been too intimidated to walk in.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00We would often come, the family, to the Gateway of India,
0:33:00 > 0:33:01which is a landmark,
0:33:01 > 0:33:05and the kind of place that families would come over weekends
0:33:05 > 0:33:07and we'd look at the Taj and I'd wonder to myself,
0:33:07 > 0:33:09"Would I ever be able to walk in there?"
0:33:13 > 0:33:16When I'm sitting here at this window, which I do quite often,
0:33:16 > 0:33:17and I'm looking out
0:33:17 > 0:33:21and I see people there taking pictures of these windows,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24they're taking pictures of the Taj and wondered maybe,
0:33:24 > 0:33:28"If we work really hard one day," like I did as a 14-year-old girl,
0:33:28 > 0:33:29like, five years from now,
0:33:29 > 0:33:32they'll be sitting where you and I are sitting.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37And that's what the Taj symbolises - it symbolises success and ambition.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40And it's a reflection of all that we dreamt of
0:33:40 > 0:33:42as young girls and young men.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49There's no resentment. Nobody out there will say,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52"Oh, look at all those rich people sitting there
0:33:52 > 0:33:54"and look at how decadent it all is."
0:33:54 > 0:33:56They are saying, "One day we're going to own that,
0:33:56 > 0:33:57"and we'll be here,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00"ordering exactly what they're ordering right there."
0:34:05 > 0:34:08The Taj opened its doors in 1903,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10supposedly built after its founder,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12JN Tata, was refused entry
0:34:12 > 0:34:15to another hotel in the city
0:34:15 > 0:34:16for not being European.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21It was the first hotel that was opened to Indians.
0:34:21 > 0:34:27It gave us, after the sun had set on the Empire,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31and even before, a sense of belonging and a sense of welcome
0:34:31 > 0:34:35when we weren't welcome in any other place.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40So that they had the vision to create something
0:34:40 > 0:34:43that was meant for their own countrymen
0:34:43 > 0:34:48and to do it with so much elan and such splendour -
0:34:48 > 0:34:51already it was a big post-colonial symbol
0:34:51 > 0:34:53at least for people like myself.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55That's what it still represents.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- Good afternoon, sir. How are you doing today?- Fine.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06The luxury for me, the true luxury of coming to the Taj,
0:35:06 > 0:35:11is to be made a member of the Taj family.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15To come here, you feel welcome like you would feel welcomed
0:35:15 > 0:35:18in a very close and loved relative's home.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24It's not impersonal, it's never impersonal.
0:35:26 > 0:35:27CAR HORN BEEPS
0:35:32 > 0:35:34With the wedding day approaching,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Rittika is having her final dress fitting.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46One of the things that you understand at an Indian wedding
0:35:46 > 0:35:49is that it's not just the two people getting married,
0:35:49 > 0:35:53it's more of a...families getting introduced to each other
0:35:53 > 0:35:56and, um, families becoming one.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01In fact, I think we had made it very clear that
0:36:01 > 0:36:04if the parents don't get along, then we might reconsider everything.
0:36:04 > 0:36:09See on the front, because it's a little heavy, it's going down.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13- It rises a little bit on the hips. - Yeah.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17'I met his parents alone to begin with.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20'So we met at the Taj for the first time.'
0:36:20 > 0:36:23That time it didn't really hit me that I'm going to meet his parents
0:36:23 > 0:36:26for the first time, so I was very casual about it.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28I think it was only a few fractions before they entered
0:36:28 > 0:36:31the restaurant where I was panicking. I'm like, "Oh, my God!
0:36:31 > 0:36:34"This is going to be the first time I'm meeting your parents!
0:36:34 > 0:36:37"I need to be at my best," and stuff.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39But they were really, really comforting,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42so I didn't feel like I was going to a test.
0:36:42 > 0:36:47It seemed very natural to talk to them and, um...
0:36:47 > 0:36:50we got along pretty well.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54- This looks... - This looks more...- I think.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59'The Taj, for more than me, it's more like'
0:36:59 > 0:37:02a tradition for Parth cos his parents got married there.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07- You OK?- Good job.- I'm happy.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12'It makes them like a little extended family,'
0:37:12 > 0:37:17and then knowing that we've always had all our important moments there,
0:37:17 > 0:37:19it's all the more special to share it with them,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21this particular wedding, yeah.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41- Good evening. May I come in? - Please.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44After you. You can leave the door.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- As you know, I'm always happy to see you.- Nice to see you, too.
0:37:48 > 0:37:53- Got you lovely chocolates.- Yes! And one with a heart!
0:37:53 > 0:37:57You are a killer! Thanks very much. That's very kind of you.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01- Thank you so much for staying with us. Thank you so much, ma'am.- Bye.
0:38:01 > 0:38:02Have a pleasant evening.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07It is quite nice that my every whim - well, some of them -
0:38:07 > 0:38:08is catered for, you know,
0:38:08 > 0:38:11he's sort of, "Can I help you?"
0:38:11 > 0:38:13He kind of sorted the bill,
0:38:13 > 0:38:15he sorted my boarding pass for tomorrow,
0:38:15 > 0:38:18sorted the car - everything!
0:38:18 > 0:38:21But that's normal in these hotels.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24But it makes me go, "Glory, hallelujah,"
0:38:24 > 0:38:26that these places exist,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28you know, these bubbles
0:38:28 > 0:38:29from the real world out there.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I've got to put my jewellery on, but I like a spot of glitter.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38You know, it kind of goes with my profession, doesn't it?
0:38:38 > 0:38:42The other thing I have to always do before going off to a gig
0:38:42 > 0:38:47is dolloping on jasmine oil
0:38:47 > 0:38:51because I like smelling like 1,001 Nights.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56It means that actually I can never really kiss a married man
0:38:56 > 0:38:58cos it'll permeate everywhere
0:38:58 > 0:39:00and the wife would find out on the way home,
0:39:00 > 0:39:05but I love jasmine, jasmine and more jasmine.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09I've just got to put my shoes on, and then we're out of here.
0:39:11 > 0:39:12OK.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Well, I only wear flat shoes.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19I used to have an outrageous selection of shoes like that
0:39:19 > 0:39:22with skirts like that and slits up to there, plunging.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I'm talking about the '70s, of course.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Now at my age it would be highly inappropriate,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32but it's good to have those good memories,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34and occasionally I get people saying,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38"I've just seen pictures of you on YouTube or something in the
0:39:38 > 0:39:39"'60s and '70s.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42"Gosh! Did you look like that?"
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Yes, I did.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Right.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Let's, um, boogie on down.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Double-check I've got my key.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Yes.
0:39:55 > 0:39:56Good.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00# Well, I woke up this morning... #
0:40:00 > 0:40:02That's it. To work.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06# With an awful aching head
0:40:10 > 0:40:15# I woke up this morning, yeah
0:40:15 > 0:40:20# With an awful aching head
0:40:24 > 0:40:28# How's my man just left me
0:40:28 > 0:40:33# With a room and an empty bed
0:40:39 > 0:40:42# Now he was a deep sea diver
0:40:43 > 0:40:47# Oh, he could hold his breath for long
0:40:47 > 0:40:48# Yeah. #
0:40:48 > 0:40:53PHONE RINGS Good evening. May I assist you?
0:40:53 > 0:40:58# Oh, he's a deep sea diver
0:40:58 > 0:41:02# He could hold his breath for long
0:41:07 > 0:41:10# But when he got down to the bottom
0:41:10 > 0:41:16# Ooh! Well, that man could do no wrong
0:41:16 > 0:41:21# Now he's gone and left me with nothing but an empty bed. #
0:41:30 > 0:41:34The hotel is hosting a wedding for Mumbai's high society, and everyone
0:41:34 > 0:41:38from the pastry chefs to the florist has been called into action.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Let's not compromise quality.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Let's not compromise.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53For the last 45 years,
0:41:53 > 0:41:57Kamal has been creating flower arrangements in the hotel.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09I know you're a very good worker,
0:42:09 > 0:42:10but this is wrong.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13I don't want any rubbish on the floor, please.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19Kamal is creating a floral centrepiece for the wedding.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21It must be faultless.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27You plan first how much will go in this.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32You have to... We know exactly in one foot how many hydrangeas go,
0:42:32 > 0:42:33how many roses go,
0:42:33 > 0:42:37so then we give you the footage.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41Sometimes we may go wrong by five or ten pieces.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44So that is what today the matter has happened.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48We have gone a little wrong. That's why I'm calling for more flowers,
0:42:48 > 0:42:50and some have come damaged,
0:42:50 > 0:42:54so they have to be returned and brought new ones.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Huh? No. We took everything from him.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04Assisting Kamal is her business partner, Bharti.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07One minute.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10He is saying that he told you these are going to come with the pink touch.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12He never told me. Has he gone mad?
0:43:12 > 0:43:15- Who is this?- Asheesh. - I don't want to talk to Asheesh.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18Sachan knows I've asked for only white.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23So you don't want any of this?
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Asheesh, what do you want to do now?
0:43:25 > 0:43:30I asked this question from Sachan also and I told Sachan this...
0:43:30 > 0:43:33No, Sachan didn't tell her that.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36Sachan did not tell her that.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38No, he has to take it away from here.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40All right. One minute.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43How many hydrangeas tomorrow he's getting?
0:43:43 > 0:43:47- I don't want...- Green. - I don't want.- OK.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49I'll talk to Asheesh.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52Why is he getting green hydrangeas?
0:43:52 > 0:43:54Who has ordered?
0:43:54 > 0:43:57- Not for us. He's getting them. - But what is his rate?
0:43:57 > 0:44:01- 255.- Tell him I've been getting at 200.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03I told him 200.
0:44:07 > 0:44:12- I don't know how you cope with this much to do!- We both cope.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17She's more of a... What shall I... My backbone.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21If she's not there, I'm lost.
0:44:21 > 0:44:22Mary had a little lamb.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27- How long have you two worked together?- 16 years.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33I've become too dependent on her, which is bad, no?
0:44:33 > 0:44:38No, it's not. I always tell everybody I have two mums,
0:44:38 > 0:44:40one at home and one here.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45Good morning.
0:44:49 > 0:44:55I had a fight just now. You know why?
0:44:55 > 0:44:58BOTH TALK AT ONCE
0:44:58 > 0:45:00This is the most beautiful flower arrangement.
0:45:00 > 0:45:04Whenever she does flowers, we just don't have to worry.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07We just kind of leave it into her hands,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10right from conceptualisation to supervision,
0:45:10 > 0:45:11and that's what I came here to see.
0:45:11 > 0:45:12You will find her, like,
0:45:12 > 0:45:14five o'clock in the morning, she'll be here,
0:45:14 > 0:45:19and we'll make sure that by the time everything's not completed to her perfection,
0:45:19 > 0:45:20she's not going to leave the place.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22It's beautiful.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25- Tonight's going to be a very beautiful flower arrangement. - I hope so, please.
0:45:25 > 0:45:30- Now I'm getting stressed! - You just have to tell her. Everything, she takes care.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32That's why probably...
0:45:32 > 0:45:38She must have done the top 500 weddings in her career in Mumbai
0:45:38 > 0:45:41where people just take her name and that's about it, you don't
0:45:41 > 0:45:42have to worry about it any more.
0:45:42 > 0:45:47- She's been in the hotel for 25 years.- 45 years.- 45, sorry, sorry!
0:45:47 > 0:45:52This is a timeless hotel, so, you know, 25, 45, 55! It goes on!
0:45:52 > 0:45:55I was trying to make you feel younger!
0:45:55 > 0:45:57He's making me feel younger!
0:45:57 > 0:46:00If I'd said 45, you wouldn't have felt like that, right?
0:46:00 > 0:46:02- Thank you.- Thank you. I'll catch you later.
0:46:08 > 0:46:12In the olden era, most people who joined the hotel,
0:46:12 > 0:46:13you would join it as your first job
0:46:13 > 0:46:15and kind of continue,
0:46:15 > 0:46:17and loyalty was very high.
0:46:17 > 0:46:18Now, what's started happening
0:46:18 > 0:46:20is that over the last few years,
0:46:20 > 0:46:23once we're getting the newer younger people coming in,
0:46:23 > 0:46:26you find that there are a lot more different job opportunities
0:46:26 > 0:46:30which come in and then people tend to leave for a few extra bucks very easily.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34However, when you say that, still a lot of people still have
0:46:34 > 0:46:37an aspiration to come and work for the hotel.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41It's as much an aspiration for an employee to come and work in here
0:46:41 > 0:46:44as much as it is for a guest to come and stay here.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53The wedding cake is too big to assemble in the kitchen,
0:46:53 > 0:46:57so the chefs have brought it into the Crystal Room.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59Please don't keep it here.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09Kamal is concerned that in this cramped space,
0:47:09 > 0:47:12the cake might get damaged.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14I'm just putting my hands up.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22- I can't keep it here. - I'm not responsible.
0:47:22 > 0:47:23I'll keep guard.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26No, no. You keep your waiter here.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47I know, but why can't it go somewhere that side?
0:47:47 > 0:47:49It can go...there's a place.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52This is as far from the stage as is possible.
0:47:55 > 0:48:00- Put the cake here at your own risk. - Yes, I told them that.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02It's a disclaimer from the florist.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06Yes, I will... Yes. My boys won't do that, I know.
0:48:14 > 0:48:15Because this is crucial.
0:48:50 > 0:48:55The amount of effort which goes in a wedding is a lot more in India
0:48:55 > 0:48:57than anywhere else in the world.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Parents save money all their life to actually get their children married
0:49:04 > 0:49:06and it's a huge social statement.
0:49:06 > 0:49:11Tonight, you'll have some of the top 500 people of the city visiting this wedding.
0:49:20 > 0:49:21You'll really see that tonight,
0:49:21 > 0:49:26the dessert counter will be the best that you've ever seen.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30We've got a fantastic wedding cake,
0:49:30 > 0:49:33the flowers are very beautifully done,
0:49:33 > 0:49:36so as the hotel is known for doing its best weddings,
0:49:36 > 0:49:38panache is extremely important.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41So that's why you see people really go over the top.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43The stage is looking nice.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09The importance of weddings is,
0:50:09 > 0:50:11I would say, too much.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13People spend money
0:50:13 > 0:50:15and money and more money.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17There are communities
0:50:17 > 0:50:20who want to spend lots of money.
0:50:21 > 0:50:23Personally, if you ask me my view,
0:50:23 > 0:50:25I don't believe in it.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28I had my children's marriage,
0:50:28 > 0:50:30which was so simple,
0:50:30 > 0:50:31just in a little temple,
0:50:31 > 0:50:33like how you have in church,
0:50:33 > 0:50:35and a few people for the reception.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Just a few people,
0:50:37 > 0:50:40just about 80, 90, that's it.
0:50:40 > 0:50:42In our family, we believe in...
0:50:43 > 0:50:45..living very moderately.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50Let me see the roses.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52Red roses.
0:50:58 > 0:50:59Open cut?
0:51:01 > 0:51:06My husband, when he was alive, he used to tell me, "That's your home."
0:51:06 > 0:51:08He says, "This is your second home."
0:51:08 > 0:51:11I used to say, "No, that's my second home." He used to say, "No."
0:51:11 > 0:51:13We used to have arguments over this.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15It was three-quarters of the day I was here.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22And my son, he doesn't like me working too much.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24He says, "Time to rest."
0:51:24 > 0:51:30Yes, work for passion, but I guess I have a family here to support.
0:51:30 > 0:51:35Eight boys. And every time I say I want to retire, they start crying,
0:51:35 > 0:51:41"No! As long as you can just come here and oversee, we'll manage."
0:51:43 > 0:51:44HORNS BEEP
0:51:57 > 0:51:58INDIAN SONG PLAYS
0:52:09 > 0:52:13I had always a passion for flowers, always.
0:52:13 > 0:52:17The young girls, also, they always like flowers.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25You know what? It never ends, passion.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27Passion is something which never ends.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05It's basically auspicious to decorate your hands
0:53:05 > 0:53:06before the wedding.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12There is particular shapes that they regularly apply
0:53:12 > 0:53:15when it comes to bridal henna.
0:53:15 > 0:53:20The fun is supposed to be that the groom is supposed to find his name
0:53:20 > 0:53:23in all the designs and patterns that they draw.
0:53:26 > 0:53:31It's like every ritual, you're getting closer to the other family.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34You're becoming one big family,
0:53:34 > 0:53:41so if you just have no rituals and... I guess you don't get so close.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47When Rittika marries Parth, there will be five generations
0:53:47 > 0:53:49of family present,
0:53:49 > 0:53:52including her 85-year-old grandmother,
0:53:52 > 0:53:54and, flying in especially,
0:53:54 > 0:53:58her great-grandmother, who is 100.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02- Her grandfather, he said always Vaishnavi.- Yeah.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05He always said Vaishnavi.
0:54:05 > 0:54:10Vaishnavi is a goddess, so when she was to be born,
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Grandfather had a dream,
0:54:12 > 0:54:17and he told us in our house, we are going to get a goddess,
0:54:17 > 0:54:19so everybody was saying, "What is he saying?
0:54:19 > 0:54:23"What is he saying?" And then we got this little girl.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27So everybody knows that we have a goddess at home.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Vaishnavi.
0:54:30 > 0:54:35And always, everything goes without any mistake
0:54:35 > 0:54:37because that's how it is for her.
0:54:37 > 0:54:38It's going to go right.
0:54:40 > 0:54:45If you get the person home, you think is the right person,
0:54:45 > 0:54:48you're very happy because then you know that you don't have
0:54:48 > 0:54:52to worry that...that's what I have as a feeling, you know, coming,
0:54:52 > 0:54:54that he's going to take care.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03- Are you happy?- yeah.
0:55:03 > 0:55:08- She's going to a better house.- Yeah. For that, I'm very, very happy.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53There is something our literature which says
0:55:53 > 0:55:59when you choose a bridegroom, there are, let's say, nine things
0:55:59 > 0:56:03which are important, out of which the first thing is the family.
0:56:11 > 0:56:15So I think she gets a lot of good things, so she's lucky.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17- She's a lucky girl. - She's lucky, yeah.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57For Mumbai, this hotel is very dear to everyone,
0:56:57 > 0:57:01because for a lot of families, it's almost three generations of loyalty.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08For us, the guests become almost family.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10That's exactly how they feel.
0:57:31 > 0:57:35The hotel gets into your blood. I think you just... You feel it.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37After some time, it's in your system.
0:57:39 > 0:57:42Wait till the day you have to leave. Just wait for it.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47You...you become such a part of it
0:57:47 > 0:57:52and it becomes such a part of you that you never want to let go.
0:58:00 > 0:58:03You know when the terrorists attacked the place?
0:58:03 > 0:58:07I was just across the water, so I actually heard the gunshots.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09I saw the place go up in flames.
0:58:09 > 0:58:13I realised they were out to destroy the building.
0:58:15 > 0:58:19He entered, he pointed the gun at me.
0:58:19 > 0:58:21Almost point-blank, they fired at us.
0:58:21 > 0:58:22INDIAN SONG PLAYS