We had previously reported that Farhan Akhtar will be playing legendary sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar in the upcoming The Beatles films from director Sam Mendes. The Hindi actor, who will be making his debut in Hollywood, recently opened up about the opportunity, calling it "exciting" and "daunting".
After recently attending the BAFTA Film Awards in London, where his film Boong won Best Children's & Family Film, the Dil Dhadakne Do actor was probed on being a part of The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event to which he said, "It's exciting. It's daunting. And...just to be a part of a film that's about this incredible group of people, the Beatles, and to be directed by Sam Mendes."
Speaking to Deadline, the actor revealed that while he hasn't started filming yet, he is excited to be playing the role of Ravi Shankar. "I haven't started filming yet, but they have been in production for a while. Just really excited. I mean, who isn't the fan of The Beatles? And who in India isn't a fan of Pandit Ravi Shankar? So, playing him in a film that's about the journey of The Beatles is just incredible to work with Sam Mendes. It is absolutely fabulous," he added.
Besides Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton, Morfydd Clark, and Harry Lawtey have also been tapped to play characters Jane Asher, Cynthia Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe respectively, who contributed to the careers of the singers behind the legendary band.
The latest quartet of actors will join the previously announced cast members: Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn, and Harris Dickinson. As reported earlier, the film will star Mescal as McCartney, Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Quinn as George Harrison, and Dickinson as Lennon.
The four separate films, one from the perspective of each Beatles member, will intersect and chronicle the band's incredible journey from England to the heart of the international music scene, all leading up to its 1970 breakup.
The cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Anna Sawai, and Aimee Lou Wood as Linda McCartney, Maureen Starkey, Yoko Ono, and Pattie Boyd, respectively. James Norton is also part of the cast as Brian Epstein, the influential Beatles manager, and Harry Lloyd as legendary record producer George Martin.
On the technical front, the films have cinematography by Greig Fraser, editing by Lee Smith, and production design by Stefania Cella, Neal Callow, and Mark Tildesley. Giles Martin is also part of the film's crew as its executive music producer.
Interestingly, the four films are slated for an April 2028 theatrical release.
