Farhan Akhtar is set to make his Hollywood feature debut in The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, an ambitious four-part project from Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes. Backed by Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions, the films are currently in production in the UK, with a theatrical release slated for April 2028.
Akhtar will portray Ravi Shankar, the legendary sitar virtuoso whose friendship with George Harrison reshaped the soundscape of The Beatles and introduced Indian classical music to Western pop culture on an unprecedented scale. Shankar’s influence on tracks such as “Within You Without You” marked a turning point in the band’s musical evolution and signalled a broader cultural exchange between East and West.
Shankar famously hosted members of the band during their 1968 visit to Rishikesh, where they attended transcendental meditation sessions under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. That chapter of Beatles history has since become one of the most mythologised and debated periods in rock lore. Casting an Indian actor of Akhtar’s stature suggests an attempt at a more nuanced and culturally grounded portrayal of the maestro whose artistry transcended borders.
The four-film project will chronicle the lives of the Fab Four from individual perspectives — a structural departure from the conventional cradle-to-grave biopic format. Harris Dickinson is set to play John Lennon, Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn will take on George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will star as Ringo Starr. It marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd and the band have granted full life story and music rights for a feature film, making the project historically significant.
The supporting cast includes Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher, Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon, Harry Lawtey as Stuart Sutcliffe, Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as manager Brian Epstein and Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono. Behind the camera, Mendes has assembled a distinguished technical team, including cinematographer Greig Fraser, editor Lee Smith and executive music producer Giles Martin.
For Akhtar, a National Award-winning director known for films such as Dil Chahta Hai, and an actor recognised for performances in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the role represents a significant international leap. While he previously appeared in a cameo in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel, this marks his first substantial Hollywood feature role. Stepping into the shoes of Ravi Shankar in a project of this scale places Akhtar at the intersection of cinema, music history and cultural diplomacy, underscoring the growing global resonance of Indian talent in mainstream international storytelling.
