Actor Pankaj Tripathi has joined Velvet, a cinematic audio stories platform as co-founder. According to a press release, the platform seeks to take India’s rich oral storytelling heritage to new heights. Launched in October 2024, Tripathi serves as co-founder of Velvet along with actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar, Akshat Saxena, Varad Bhatnagar, and Sharib Khan. Tripathi, known for films such as Stree 2, Gangs of Wasseypur, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and web series Mirzapur, said storytelling is deeply rooted in Indian culture.

“From folk tales to epics, our stories have always had the power to inspire, educate, and entertain. With this audio platform, we wanted to take this tradition and elevate it into a cinematic experience for the ears-something that transports listeners into a world of imagination while being deeply rooted in our cultural ethos,” the actor said in a statement.