...the opening of the Mumbai location marks the end of a tortuous two-decade endeavour to break into the world's second-most-populous country. Three different deals involving 22 prospective hotels fell apart in the latter half of the epic...

[leela] ...Says Sharp: "I think they never intended for us to run it. I think they just got us caught up in the euphoria of finally getting to India. And just before we were going to open the hotel [in Goa], they just kicked us out."

[morepen] ...the group's founder died suddenly at age 38 and the family's real-estate plans died with him...

[oberoi] ...couldn't find common ground...

...the company started talking to the Jatia family, owners of several Hyatts in India. On Oct. 24, 2003, with a touring Prime Minister Jean Chrétien looking on, Sharp signed a deal to manage the Jatias' newest hotel, the future Four Seasons Mumbai.