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Mehul Choksi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth5 May 1959

Age66 Years

BirthplaceBombay, India (now Mumbai)

ProfessionBusinessman

NationalityAntigua And Barbudan

Marital statusMarried

SpousePreeti Choksi

FamilyFather - Chinubhai Choksi; Son - 1; Daughters - Priyanka & 1 more

Mehul Choksi Biography

Mehul Chinubhai Choksi is an Indian-born businessman who built a major jewellery retail group, later acquiring Antiguan nationality. His career spans the G

Early life and background
Mehul Chinubhai Choksi was born on 5 May 1959 in Bombay (now Mumbai). He grew up in a family involved in the diamond trade; his father, Chinubhai Choksi, worked as a diamond trader. Choksi attended the University of Mumbai but did not complete a degree, and he began learning the jewellery business from his father while still a student.

Career
Choksi joined his family firm, Gitanjali Gems, in 1975 and assumed control of the business in 1985. At the time he took over, the company’s turnover was modest compared with what it later became. Over subsequent decades he expanded the business aggressively, building a portfolio of brands that included names such as Nakshatra, Gili, D’damas, Asmi, Diya, Maya and Sangini. Under his leadership the group developed a substantial retail footprint, with reports that the company reached more than 4,000 points of sale worldwide.

In the 2000s Choksi led a series of growth moves. He launched an initial public offering for Gitanjali Gems in 2006 and acquired the US-based Samuel Jewelers Inc., which operated more than 100 high-end stores and provided direct access to the United States retail market. He served as a director and chairman of multiple companies within the Gitanjali group and related entities, and in August 1998 joined the board of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. He became Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. in August 2007 and later held the managing director role at Nakshatra World Limited (also referred to as Gitanjali Brands Limited) from October 2016.

Choksi positioned his businesses as an integrated jewelry retail operation in India and sought to expand internationally. His companies attracted celebrity endorsements and hosted high-profile guests from the Indian film industry. At various points he has been described as an influential figure in branded jewellery retailing.

Public profile
Choksi’s family includes his wife, Preeti Choksi, a son and two daughters, one of whom is named Priyanka. He is the maternal uncle of fellow jewellery businessman Nirav Modi. Personal details reported about him include a height of approximately 165 cm (5 ft 5 in), black hair and black eyes. He has been identified with Hinduism and listed as having a residence in Jolly Harbour Marks, Antigua.

In 2017 Choksi acquired nationality of Antigua and Barbuda and is identified as Antiguan and Barbudan from that year onward. The profile of his business and personal life changed in 2018 when investigations into alleged fraudulent transactions involving Punjab National Bank brought intense scrutiny to him and other associated individuals and companies. Media reports have noted that the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies looked into transactions connected with Gitanjali and related entities.

Later developments
Reports indicate that Choksi was reported missing from Antigua and Barbuda in May 2021 and was subsequently located in Dominica, where local authorities arrested him while he was attempting to travel by boat. Following that period he relocated to Antwerp, Belgium, where he obtained a residency card in November 2023. In April 2025 he was arrested in Belgium after India requested his extradition; media coverage connected that action to allegations of fraudulent activity.

Personal notes
Choksi built his career by expanding a family business into a large retail jewellery operation and by creating multiple consumer-facing brands. He has been described as having a strong interest in positioning his companies on the international stage, including through acquisitions and public listings. Reports have highlighted the prominence of his retail network and the use of celebrity endorsements in promoting his brands.

Latest updates
As of April 2025, the most recent reports state that Choksi was arrested in Belgium following an extradition request from Indian authorities. Earlier milestones noted here include his Antiguan citizenship in 2017, the 2006 IPO and the acquisition of Samuel Jewelers, and the managing director roles he held within Gitanjali group companies.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Mehul Choksi, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Managing Director, Nakshatra World Limited (Gitanjali Brands Limited)

Serving as managing director from October 2016; oversaw brand operations and retail expansion.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined Gitanjali Gems in 1975 and took over leadership in 1985
  2. Launched Gitanjali Gems IPO in 2006
  3. Acquired Samuel Jewelers Inc. in 2006 to enter the US retail market
  4. Served as Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. and later Nakshatra World Limited
  5. Built a portfolio of jewellery brands and expanded to thousands of points of sale worldwide
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mehul Choksi born?

Mehul Choksi was born on 5 May 1959.

What is Mehul Choksi known for?

Mehul Choksi is known for businessman.

What is Mehul Choksi’s marital status?

Mehul Choksi's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Mehul Choksi married to?

Mehul Choksi is publicly listed as married to Preeti Choksi.