The book’s launch at Crossword, Phoenix Avenue of Stars brought audiences closer to Gadgil’s personal journey and the experiences that have shaped PNG Jewellers.
Mumbai, 25th September 2026: Crossword Bookstores, Pune, brought an inspiring story told by Saurabh Gadgil to life with the launch of Choosing Gold on Thursday, 10 September, as the author opened up about the journey behind PNG Jewellers and the legacy he has carried forward. The evening offered guests an intimate glimpse into the making of one of India’s most recognised jewellery brands, tracing a journey shaped by generations of tradition, hard choices, ambition, challenges, and perseverance.
Published by Penguin Random House India, Choosing Gold presents a first-hand account of Saurabh Gadgil’s experiences of navigating the complexities of a family legacy while building an organisation equipped for the future. During the conversation, he shared prioritising finding joy in the work he does and how that reflects into the work culture he is creating around him. The journey of taking a traditional family business to IPO, when rarely a jewellery store is known to do it. The difficult decisions, setbacks, milestones and lessons that have shaped his journey, giving audiences a rare perspective on the man behind the brand. The engaging session drew an enthusiastic response from guests, who experienced the story not merely as the evolution of a jewellery business, but as a deeply personal account of carrying forward a legacy while creating a vision for what comes next.
The book was launched at Crossword Bookstores, located at Phoenix Avenue of Stars, Viman Nagar, Pune, where Gadgil was in conversation with Aakash Gupta, MD, Crossword Bookstores, for an evening that brought together the worlds of business, entrepreneurship, publishing and retail. The conversation moved beyond the familiar story of a family business and opened up the far more personal journey behind it: what it means to inherit a legacy, what happens when that legacy is tested, and how difficult choices can ultimately shape the future of an institution.
Aakash Gupta, MD, Crossword Bookstores, stated, “A book becomes far more interesting when you get to hear the person behind it speak about the experiences that led to its writing. This is what made Choosing Gold so special when it came to connecting with the readers. Saurabh brought a very personal perspective to the conversation, and the audience could engage with the story in a way that deepened their connection with the book. We were very happy to host the evening at Crossword and to see such genuine curiosity around his journey.”
Rather than looking at the journey only through the lens of growth and achievement, the conversation explored the moments that tested the organisation and its leadership. Gadgil spoke about periods of uncertainty, internal challenges and setbacks, and the difficult decisions that followed. At the centre of these experiences was a recurring question: what should remain non-negotiable when everything else is changing?
Saurabh Gadgil, MD & Chairman, PNG Jewellers, said, “There are many things about building a business that never find their way into its official history. It carried the work, sacrifices, and expectations of the generations before me, and eventually became my responsibility to take forward. Choosing Gold comes from those experiences. It is perhaps the most personal account I have shared of my journey with PNG Jewellers and of what it has meant to be entrusted with a legacy that began long before me. To see people connect with that story at Crossword was an emotional and gratifying experience. For me, the book is not only about where PNG Jewellers has come from, but about the values and convictions that will guide where it goes next.”
As Saurabh Gadgil spoke with Aakash Gupta about the experiences behind the book, the enthusiastic response from the audience made the evening a memorable launch for the book, while Crossword provided the setting for the story to move from the page into a lively exchange with readers.
