Weaving dreams with purpose

Mrudula and Pankaj Tripathi. Pic/Instagram

From championing simple living to proudly embracing his roots, Pankaj Tripathi has long been an advocate for India's indigenous traditions. Now, the National Award-winning actor is taking that passion a step further with Tulo, a handloom venture launched in collaboration with stylist Vineet Chauhan. Aimed at supporting local artisans and celebrating India's diverse weaving traditions, the actor hopes to make handcrafted textiles more accessible while encouraging consumers to choose locally made products.

Tulo, which the actor launched earlier this month, was inspired by Tripathi's travels across India for film shoots, where he witnessed the craftsmanship behind some of the country's most celebrated weaves.

Recalling his time in Chanderi while shooting Stree (2018), Tripathi said, "During a shoot in Chanderi, I noticed that handlooms were present in almost every household. Women would sit and work on sarees and fabric as part of their daily routine. What struck me was that weaving wasn't treated as a separate profession, it was part of the family's identity and had been carried forward for generations."

His visits to Banaras left an equally lasting impression. "Whenever I had time there, I would walk through areas where weavers lived and worked. Watching someone create such detailed fabric entirely by hand was incredible. It made me think about how rare that process has become in a world where most things are produced by machines," he said.

The venture was born out of conversations with Chauhan, who has styled the actor for years and shares his passion for Indian textiles. "

A shared love for handloom

Like Pankaj Tripathi, his wife, Mridula Tripathi, has often spoken about her fondness for Indian handlooms and traditional sarees. The couple has frequently championed indigenous textiles through their public appearances, with Pankaj himself often wearing handwoven fabrics and Khadi.