Indian singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur Ananya Birla, known for her multifaceted talents and groundbreaking achievements, has announced a significant shift in focus from music to business endeavours. This decision comes as Birla expresses the challenges of maintaining a balance between her thriving music career and her entrepreneurial pursuits. Ananya Birla, the eldest child of Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, and Neerja Birla, represents the sixth generation of the illustrious Birla family.
Ms Birla, who has captivated audiences with her music since her debut single in 2016, has garnered over 350 million combined streams and collaborated with renowned artists such as Sean Kingston, Afrojack, and Mood Melodies. Her remarkable success includes being the first Indian artist to achieve platinum status with an English-language single in India, with five of her singles attaining platinum or double platinum status.
In a heartfelt message shared today, Birla revealed the difficulty of her decision, stating, “Guys, this has been the hardest decision. I”ve reached a stage where balancing both the businesses I run and am building + music is becoming near impossible and it”s taking a toll on me in ways that I can”t express.” She expressed gratitude for the love and support received for her music over the years and emphasized the wealth of talent in India”s music industry.
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Birla”s musical journey reached new heights in 2020 when she became the first Indian artist to sign with Maverick Management in Los Angeles. Her singles “Let There Be Love” and “Everybody”s Lost” made waves, marking her as the first Indian artist featured on the American national top 40 pop radio show, Sirius XM Hits.
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Beyond her music career, Birla has made significant contributions to the business world. She is the founder of Svatantra Microfin, a company dedicated to providing microfinance to women in rural India, and the founder of Ikai Asai. Additionally, she serves as the co-founder of Mpower, focusing on mental health initiatives. Birla”s entrepreneurial endeavors have earned her recognition, including the ET Panache Trendsetters of 2016 award for Young Business Person and inclusion in GQ”s Most Influential Indians of 2018.
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The Birla Group is one of India”s oldest and most prominent conglomerates, with a rich legacy spanning over a century. Founded by the visionary industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla in the late 19th century, the group has played a pivotal role in shaping India”s industrial growth.
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Today, the Birla Group encompasses a diverse portfolio of businesses across various sectors, including cement, metals, textiles, chemicals, telecommunications, and financial services. Some of its flagship companies include Aditya Birla Capital, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, UltraTech Cement, Hindalco Industries, and Grasim Industries.