The Oberoi Sheraton that came up in Mumbai in 1973 did not have the dignified elegance of the Taj. Indeed, with 550 rooms, spread over 30-plus floors (Oberoi claimed it was the tallest building in India at the time), a more modern construction and aimed, it was said, at the booming traffic from the Gulf, the Oberoi Sheraton was perceived as the brash challenger to the Taj.

Its location, at the seafront edge of the business district, gave it a more contemporary feel and apart from attracting guests it soon became a popular venue for conferences, for local executives and the young. The hotel’s nightclub, The Cellars, was a popular hangout for socialites, as was the coffee shop. Oberoi claimed also that his hotel was the first to employ women on a large scale in the hospitality sector.

In time, The Oberoi Sheraton added a more exclusive wing, The Oberoi, which soon became extremely popular with corporate travellers (former guests include Bill Gates, Vladimir Putin and Jack Welch). Simple and classy, with 350 rooms arranged around an atrium, the hotel also had an exclusive floor for women travellers, personalised butler service and a modern executive centre.

Both the Oberoi Sheraton, now known as the Trident, and The Oberoi were familiar meeting points for the business community and for fashionable diners; the hotels housed some of the city’s finest restaurants and watering holes: Indiana Jones, Tiffin, Frangipani. It is also one of the best recognised and much beloved buildings on the famous Mumbai skyline.