Actor Pankaj Tripathi Joins Audio OTT Platform Velvet As Cofounder

SUMMARY

Velvet aims to provide opportunities for theatre artists to showcase their talent on the global stage

The startup plans to launch the app in the US soon with a focus on the Indian subcontinent diaspora

Velvet aims to take Indian storytelling to a global audience by transforming classical tales, folklore, and contemporary narratives into immersive audio experiences

Audio OTT platform Velvet has roped in actor Pankaj Tripathi as a cofounder.

Founded in 2024 by actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar, Akshat Saxena, Varad Bhatnagar and Sharib Khan, Velvet aims to take Indian storytelling to a global audience by transforming classical tales, folklore, and contemporary narratives into immersive audio experiences.

The startup is collaborating with actors, writers, and voice artists to produce exclusive stories.

Commenting on his decision to join the platform as a cofounder, Tripathi said, “Storytelling is deeply rooted in our 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.”

Velvet aims to provide opportunities for theatre artists to showcase their talent on the global stage. The app is currently available on Google and Apple app stores in India.

Cofounder Saxena told Inc42 that the startup plans to launch in the US soon with a focus on the Indian subcontinent diaspora.

“At Velvet, our vision is to preserve India’s rich tradition of oral storytelling while nurturing storytellers and actors from across the country, giving them a global platform,” cofounder Kumar added.

This comes at a time when the Indian OTT space is buzzing with activities. In November 2024, Prasar Bharati launched its own over-the-top (OTT) platform WAVES. A month later, the app crossed more than 1 Mn downloads.

Last month, regional OTT streaming platform STAGE’s board approved a proposal to raise INR 84.61 Cr from a clutch of investors via issuance of preference shares.

The OTT platforms are seeing rapid adoption on the back of growing internet and smartphone penetration. As per a report, India was home to more than 707 Mn internet users in 2023 that actively engaged with OTT audio and video services.