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Farhan Akhtar to Play Sitar Legend Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes' Beatles Epic

Farhan Akhtar has been cast to play the legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes' ambitious four-film biographical series on The Beatles. The project, now in production, will chronicle the lives of the iconic band members with a star-studded international ensemble. Each film will focus on a different member of the Fab Four, with principal actors portraying John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The cinematic event is scheduled for a global theatrical release in April 2028 under Sony Pictures.

Key Points: Farhan Akhtar Cast as Ravi Shankar in Beatles Biopic Series

  • Four-film Beatles biopic series
  • Farhan Akhtar as Ravi Shankar
  • Sam Mendes directs all films
  • Global release in April 2028
  • Star-studded international cast
2 min read

Farhan Akhtar to play Pandit Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes' four-film Beatles biopic

Farhan Akhtar joins Sam Mendes' four-film Beatles biopic to portray sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Global release set for 2028.

Farhan Akhtar to play Pandit Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes' four-film Beatles biopic
"Akhtar takes on the role of Shankar, the globally celebrated sitar virtuoso who shared a deep musical association with George Harrison. - Variety"

Washington, February 13

Farhan Akhtar is set to portray Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary Indian musician Pandit Ravi Shankar in director Sam Mendes' ambitious project, 'The Beatles- A Four-Film Cinematic Event.'

The four-part biographical series on the iconic British band has officially begun production in the UK and is slated for a global theatrical release in April 2028 under Sony Pictures, Variety has confirmed.

Akhtar joins an expanding international ensemble that includes Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher, Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon and Harry Lawtey as Stuart Sutcliffe. The films will chronicle the lives of the Fab Four, with each instalment focusing on a different member of The Beatles.

Akhtar, known for his performances in 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and 'The Sky Is Pink,' as well as appearances in Marvel's Ms. Marvel and most recently 120 Bahadur, takes on the role of Shankar, the globally celebrated sitar virtuoso who shared a deep musical association with George Harrison.

The principal cast features Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

Additional casting includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as Brian Epstein, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono, Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd, Harry Lloyd as George Martin and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey, as per Variety.

Behind the camera, Mendes directs all four films and produces alongside his Neal Street Productions partner, Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, with Alexandra Derbyshire also producing.

The technical team includes cinematographer Greig Fraser and editor Lee Smith, among others. Production is underway.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting casting. I hope they focus properly on the Indian influence on The Beatles, especially George Harrison's journey with the sitar. It's a crucial part of music history. Hope they get the cultural nuances right and don't just tokenize it.
A
Ananya R
So proud to see an Indian actor being chosen for such a significant international project. Pandit Ravi Shankar was a global icon who took our classical music to the world. Farhan has big shoes to fill, but I believe in him! 🙏
M
Michael C
As a Beatles fan, I'm cautiously optimistic. The casting looks stellar overall. The Shankar-Harrison relationship is a beautiful chapter in music. Hope the films do it justice. 2028 is so far away though!
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I'm not fully convinced. Farhan is a good actor, but portraying a classical maestro like Panditji requires a certain depth and stillness. I would have preferred someone like Irrfan Khan (if he were with us) or maybe even an actual classical musician's son like Anoushka Shankar could have consulted heavily. Let's see.
S
Sarah B
Four films! That's ambitious. The cast list is impressive. Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono is also great casting. Looking forward to seeing how they weave the Indian thread through the Beatles' story. The music from that era was truly transformative.

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