Pathbreakers: How 10 Visionary Leaders Transformed India

Nearly two decades ago, veteran financial journalists Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu set out to interview some of India’s most accomplished leaders to understand the values, convictions and defining moments that shaped their remarkable journeys. The authors’ curiosity to unravel the people behind the towering personas culminated in Pathbreakers, a gripping series of long-form conversations with achievers across diverse industries and professions. In 2026, Pathbreakers returns in a powerful new avatar, reinterpreting leadership for a dramatically transformed India. This updated edition features new in-person interviews with Mukesh Ambani, K.V. Kamath, Deepak Parekh, Uday Kotak, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Satish Magar and Rajkumar Hirani. The book also revisits the conversations with icons such as Ratan Tata, Amitabh Bachchan and R.H. Patil, which continue to remain relevant to date. Pathbreakers is a masterclass in resilience, character and leadership. Its pages reveal how extraordinary individuals overcame setbacks without losing sight of their vision. With refreshing candour, Ambani reflects on the succession plan for Reliance; Kotak shares why he challenged the RBI in court; and Hirani explores how storytelling is evolving in the age of AI. The ten intimate interviews in this book are powerful portraits of some of modern India’s greatest institution-builders. The legends’ hard-earned lessons will inspire and embolden a new generation to navigate a volatile world and leave an enduring legacy of their own.