This letter envisages the photophysical insights on phthalocyanine (Pc)-gold nanoparticle (AuNp) conjugate in solution. Both steady state and time-resolved fluorescence studies evoke remarkable enhancement in energy transfer efficiency from ZnPc to AuNp in comparison to free-base Pc (H2Pc) in toluene. It is observed that in presence of AuNp, selectivity in binding for the non-covalent complex of H2Pc with PC70BM (a fullerene derivative) is found to be similar to 3.0 times higher compared to ZnPc-PC70BM system. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscope and fluorescence microscope measurements provide very good support in favour of the rationale behind Pc-AuNp interaction in solution. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.