Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar is set to make his Hollywood feature debut in The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, an ambitious four-part project helmed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes. The series, backed by Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions, is currently in production in the UK, with a theatrical release scheduled for April 2028.
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Akhtar will portray legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, whose friendship with George Harrison profoundly influenced the Beatles’ music and introduced Indian classical sounds to Western audiences. Shankar famously hosted the band during their 1968 visit to Rishikesh for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s transcendental meditation sessions — a pivotal chapter in Beatles history.
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Casting Akhtar, a National Award-winning actor and director, signals an effort to portray Shankar with authenticity and cultural depth. Akhtar’s Hollywood experience so far includes a cameo in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel, but this role marks his first major international project.
The four-film project will explore the lives of the Beatles from individual perspectives, deviating from traditional cradle-to-grave biopic storytelling. Harris Dickinson stars as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
The supporting cast is equally star-studded, featuring Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher, Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon, Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as manager Brian Epstein, and Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono. Harry Lawtey will portray Stuart Sutcliffe, often called the “Fifth Beatle.”
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Mendes has gathered a technical dream team, including cinematographer Greig Fraser, editor Lee Smith, and executive music producer Giles Martin, ensuring the project is both visually and musically ambitious.
For Akhtar, the role of Ravi Shankar represents a unique convergence of cultural significance and global cinematic exposure. While filming dates have not been disclosed, anticipation for his Hollywood debut and the four-film Beatles saga is already building.