TheGlitz ‘Super Woman’ Manpreet Kaur, the Co-Founder of OSM Records, is one woman who has made her niche in a predominantly male-dominated music production industry by forming a successful record label.  In a very short span of 4 years, OSM has already delivered multiple hits and created a niche for their music and artists in a hyper-competitive environment.

Without any prior media background, her first brush with the camera came while working in the customer relations department of Hutch (currently Vodafone) where she shot a training video and an internal advertisement. During the shoot, she was scouted by a renowned photographer and after having a professional portfolio shoot, she started getting modeling offers from across the country. Manpreet went on to work with multiple renowned brands such as FabIndia, GQ, BridalAsia, US Polo, PVR; hosted TV shows and compered prestigious events.

It was only after Manpreet was a finalist of Ms. PTC Punjabi and acted in Harjeet Harman’s famous song ‘Panjeba Wali Kaun Hai’ that her conservative family accepted and supported her foray into the entertainment industry. Appearing in multiple chartbusters like Gani, Single Hai Ji and Bikky Munna, she has worked with industry stalwarts like Garry Sandhu. Dr. Zeus, Akhil, etc. and gone from strength to strength, to create her own entertainment companies.

An appearance at an industry event led to a fated encounter with Himanshu Shekhar that resulted in a partnership that created Vipra Dialogues and later OSM Records (2018). Indeed, Manpreet is the epitome of TheGlitz ‘Super Woman’.

Your journey has had many momentous milestones. Could you tell us about your life-changing journey that has molded you to be what you are today?

My professional journey began with client servicing in the Telecom industry. However, my hunger for creative expression led me to pursue modeling and hosting gigs on television shows, traversing throughout India. As I continued to hone my craft, I found myself drawn toward the world of acting, where I gradually established myself in the Punjabi entertainment industry.

After that, along with my friend, Himanshu Shekhar, I founded Vipra Dialogues, a content creation firm that rapidly gained prominence with its viral videos supported by a talented team of over 40 people. Buoyed by our success, we sought to diversify our creative endeavors to music production and thus OSM Records was born in 2018. Our debut single was an instant chart-topper, paving the way for us to launch and nurture a plethora of gifted artists such as Suyyash Rai and ChitranshiDhyani.

Along the way, we have collaborated with industry stalwarts like Milind Gaba, Gurmeet Singh, and Gary Sandhu to create several hit tunes that have collectively amassed over a staggering 200 million views. Some of our most successful songs, such as ‘Tom Cruise’, ‘Chingam’, and ‘Zara PaasAao’, have left an indelible mark on the music scene, catapulting us to the forefront of the Indian streaming media landscape.

Could you list 3 of your major achievements?

I take immense pride in my work, which has been the source of my greatest achievements. Our content at Vipra Dialogues went viral and was featured by some of the biggest media houses across the globe. I believe it was truly remarkable for two people with no prior experience to collaborate with renowned industry names and create such high-quality content.

In addition, I am delighted by the success of our songs like ‘Hanji Cooking Sikhi’ and ‘Kati Zeher,’ which gained tremendous popularity and a massive following. People were chanting them and even comparing us to industry stalwarts, which served as a significant affirmation of our hard work and ingenuity.

Ultimately, I am most proud that two unknown individuals could come together and produce something as exceptional as Vipra Dialogues and OSM Records, which have garnered the love and admiration of people worldwide…and I can confidently say that the best is yet to come.

What are the setbacks you have faced? How did you tackle these setbacks or challenges? And what lesson have you learned from it?

As a woman entrepreneur in the cut-throat and male-dominated entertainment industry, establishing myself was a challenge. At OSM, we strive to be trendsetters and bring out the best in the Indian music scene. With numerous labels, artists, and choices available, standing out requires a perfect blend of lyrics, music, videography, artists, singers, and promotions. Staying on top of the latest trends and having a pulse on the market’s preferences is essential to creating a unique and universally appreciated offering.

When you look back, what are the three qualities in you that have helped you become what you are today?

I would say the three most important things that have helped me to succeed are patience, laser-sharp vision and focus on our goals, and finally the most important-perseverance. Entrepreneurship is a fulfilling but challenging journey with many ups and downs. Successful entrepreneurs need to have a very clear vision, a lot of self-motivation and resilience to be able to bounce back from failures and setbacks.

Who are the people who have been the wind behind your wings? 

First and foremost, would be my parents, who come from an extremely conservative background and still encouraged and nurtured me to stand on my own in an often-maligned entertainment industry.

Another pillar of strength – my friend, confidant and co-founder, Himanshu Shekhar. He stood by me throughout and gave me the courage to face challenges head-on and the confidence to spread my wings.

Last but not the least, the uber-talented artists and team that have helped us become what we are today. Without this amazing group of people, who stuck with us through thick and thin, we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we have today.

Lastly, if there was a quote to define you, what would it be?

I think it would be – “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs