Editor's note: This interview was originally published in 2012. Goa's luxury villa rental market has matured dramatically since then — premium villas in North Goa now command ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000 per night — but the insights on running a distinctive holiday property remain instructive.
Parts of the Bollywood film Rush, starring Emraan Hashmi, Neha Dhupia, and Sagarika Ghatge, were shot on the property. And that is not all — the property has served as the venue for the Sunburn Festival, one of Asia's largest electronic music events. Meet Abedin Sham, the owner of this stunning villa near Goa's Candolim Beach, as he speaks to us in an exclusive interview.
The Interview
Please tell us something about your background — personal and professional.
Tennis is my passion. It is something I grew up playing, to the point where I have had to miss family holidays to travel to small towns for tournaments in the midst of summer. I left home to pursue tennis at the age of 12 and lived, travelled, and schooled in the United States for over 12 years.
I moved back to India permanently in 2006 and set up a fast food concept called Wich Latte. At the time, I noticed a gap in the sandwich market and thought this was an idea that would work. I spent about nine months doing research with my chef and another six months getting the kitchen and café ready. We were in the midst of a revamp and an expansion, with plans to open additional outlets and grow further.
Can you tell us a bit about the property and its history? When did you acquire it?
Goa has always been a favourite destination, and having studied hospitality — and seeing the tourism boom — I figured it would be a great place to start something small.
The land was acquired in 1986 but had been lying dormant. I was not completely familiar with the property until I vacationed in Goa in 2007. I was with a friend, Nikhil Chinappa, and whilst walking on the land he came up with the idea of a music festival, now known as Sunburn. I also wanted a second home in Goa, so we decided to build a small place to come and stay when we visited. Construction on the property began in 2008, and the house was semi-finished in December 2010.
When and why did you decide to turn your property into a holiday home? How did you start out?
I only began using the villa on a consistent basis from May 2012. Whenever friends would visit me there, they would always tell me to let the place out to them privately. When I finally decided to go ahead with the idea, I realised the property would need to be upgraded to meet the profile of guests who would be staying. I have now employed a full-time cook, caretaker, added wi-fi, new upholstery, and a sound system — everything one would require for a comfortable and memorable stay.
How much involvement is required from you as the owner to successfully run a vacation rental business?
Initially, a lot of time is spent looking into the fine details and individual tastes and preferences of each guest. As I was new to this business, I have learned as I have gone along, but I was always confident of providing guests with a memorable experience.
What makes your property unique? Why should travellers rent your property?
The villa is situated on eight acres of land, sits right on the beach, is surrounded by coconut trees, and has uninterrupted views of the sea. If that is not unique enough, the Sunburn music festival has been held here every December.
The house itself has been designed in a Moorish style by Patzchke Designs. The villa is stark white with splashes of colour and intricate details such as traditional marble finishes, antique Indian furniture, and a beautiful mosaic floor laid on the roof terrace in the shape of the zodiac. The front doors are teak wood, salvaged from an old Indian palace and restored with hand-made iron locks.
The villa sits right in the heart of Candolim, and the beach is literally right outside the door. Candolim has some of the finest bars and restaurants in Goa, all within a five-minute walk. The Candolim Road also has numerous shops where guests can choose from local souvenirs, amongst many other things.
What is the present level of activity in the real estate sector of Goa? Would you recommend it as a location for holiday home buyers?
The cost of real estate has increased drastically in Goa, especially in the prime regions — the beaches, river fronts, and coastal belts. Coupled with the increased cost of construction and higher operational costs, renting out a holiday home rather than purchasing is a better option for many people at this point.
Goa's broader property market, however, remains one of the most active in India's leisure real estate segment. Demand from Mumbai's Bollywood and creative communities, from tech sector professionals, and from international buyers has sustained strong price growth in North Goa — particularly in areas such as Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna, and the increasingly sought-after Assagao-Siolim belt.
What kinds of guests are suitable for staying in a holiday home?
I think all types of guests, except business and convention travellers, are suitable for holiday homes. People want a place that offers greater value for money. Holiday homes give you more space and allow guests to personalise their vacation — through unique meals, flexibility on timing, privacy, and so on.
What is your philosophy for running the property?
It is simple — just treat the property as you would your own home. The level of care, maintenance, and attention to detail that you would apply to your own living space is what guests deserve and what they have come to expect from a premium villa rental.
How do you build the trust that a particular guest is right for your holiday home?
It all comes down to the basics. I always start with a phone call — it acts as a buffer and gives you a better idea of what the guests are expecting. Taking the time to understand a guest's requirements before they arrive means there are no surprises on either side.
How do you ensure that guests are trustworthy?
You can never be entirely certain, but the best way to safeguard yourself is to take payment upfront. When guests check in having already settled, you have a degree of protection. Hiring the right kind of staff is also important — they need to know how to deal with guests if a situation does arise.
Have you had any high-profile guests? What are important things to keep in mind while handling them?
As the property is located where Sunburn has been held, we do have some high-profile guests. Unfortunately there is nothing more I can say on that subject, as the privacy of my guests is paramount.
Have you added any amenities on the luxury side? What are you looking at next?
To take the luxury home experience to the next level, we are looking at tying up with local spas and adding a beach volleyball court on the property. We would also like to partner with a PADI diving school to offer special packages to guests who want to get certified over a four-day course. That would be a pretty cool memory to create.
What are your top tips for other vacation home or homestay owners?
I am still learning, but what I think is most important is for both sides to be completely clear on exactly what they want and what they are expecting. This way, arrangements can be made accordingly and everyone is happy. Put everything in writing, respond quickly, and deliver on every commitment you make.
Goa's Luxury Villa Market in 2024–2025
When Abedin Sham began renting out his Candolim villa in 2012, the Goa luxury villa market was still finding its shape. A decade on, it has matured into one of India's most sophisticated and commercially active short-term rental markets.
Premium villas in North Goa — particularly those with sea views, private pools, and beach proximity — now command nightly rates of ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000 during peak season, a reflection of both the quality of product available and the intensity of demand. The addressable market has widened considerably: Bollywood celebrities, tech founders, and international visitors form the core premium segment, while a growing base of upper-middle-class urban professionals drives substantial demand in the ₹15,000–₹50,000 per night bracket.
The Sunburn Festival has itself grown into one of Asia's largest and most recognised electronic music events, and its continuing association with properties like Abedin Sham's remains a powerful demonstration of how a well-located, distinctive villa can become genuinely iconic — both as a lifestyle asset and as a commercial property.
Demand from the Bollywood and entertainment community for production locations has also grown significantly. A property with the visual character and scale of Abedin Sham's villa now commands meaningful fees for film and advertising shoots, adding a commercial revenue stream that was barely on the radar when the property was first opened to guests.
For buyers and operators entering the Goa market today, the fundamentals are strong but competition is considerably more intense than a decade ago. Differentiation — through design, food, location, and experience — remains the most important commercial lever available to a boutique operator. Properties with a clear identity and a loyal repeat-guest base continue to outperform those that offer a generic luxury experience.