Ananya Birla drops mic to focus on world of business

Mumbai: Entrepreneur-singer Ananya Birla (30), the eldest daughter of Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, has announced a break from music, saying she will 'focus all her energies' on business. Ananya is on the board of some group entities like Grasim, Aditya Birla Management Corporation and Aditya Birla Fashion.
Taking to social media, Ananya said: "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. Thank you for all the love for the music I've released over the years. I hope one day we can appreciate English music made by our own people as there is so much talent in our own country. Thank you again. It's time I focus all my energies to the business world."
When she was in her teens, Ananya founded Svatantra Microfin, which is one of the fastest-growing microfinance institutions in the country. In March, Svatantra, which purchased Micro Housing Finance in 2018 and Chaitanya India Fin Credit from Sachin Bansal (Flipkart co-founder) in 2023, received an equity investment of Rs 1,930 crore ($230 million) from private equity majors Advent International and Multiples. The deal was said to be the largest private equity investment in India's microfinance sector.
Ananya, who studied at the American School of Bombay and University of Oxford, has founded Ikai Asai, a home decor brand. She has also co-founded Mpower and advocates for conversations around mental health in India.