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Farhan Akhtar to Feature in The Beatles Biopic
Bollywood star makes Hollywood debut as legendary musician in Sam Mendes’ epic Beatles saga, while Don 3 fans voice frustration.
- Publish date: since 9 hours Reading time: two min read
Bollywood actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar is set to make a major splash on the global stage with a key role in The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, a four-part biographical series about the iconic British band directed by Sam Mendes and slated for theatrical release in April 2028.
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Akhtar will portray Pandit Ravi Shankar, the renowned Indian sitar maestro whose deep friendship and musical exchange with Beatles guitarist George Harrison helped introduce Indian classical music to a worldwide audience in the late 1960s.
The ambitious project, backed by Sony Pictures, plans to explore The Beatles’ rise, creative evolution and global influence across four interconnected films, each focusing on a different band member. The star-studded ensemble already announced includes Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, along with Lucy Boynton, Morfydd Clark and other international talents.
Hollywood Breakthrough and Cultural Significance
For Akhtar, 2026 marks a milestone in his career and Indian cinema’s growing visibility in Hollywood. Though he previously appeared in the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, this is his most prominent international film role to date. Industry observers say the casting underscores not only his versatility as an actor but also the enduring global legacy of cultural bridges like the Shankar-Harrison partnership.
Fans' Backlash Amid Don 3 Drama
The announcement has not been met with universal applause. Some Indian film fans, especially followers of the upcoming Bollywood action sequel Don 3, have expressed frustration online, saying Akhtar’s Hollywood commitments signal a shift in priorities away from the eagerly awaited franchise.
Those reactions surface amid ongoing tensions around Don 3: actor Ranveer Singh reportedly exited the project late last year due to creative differences and scheduling conflicts, leading to public debate about the film’s future and alleged compensation disputes between Singh and Akhtar’s production house. While Don 3 remains stalled, neither side has fully clarified next steps.
What’s Next
As production continues on the Beatles biopic series in the United Kingdom, anticipation is building worldwide, both for the Beatles’ storied tale and for Akhtar’s performance as a music legend whose influence transcends cultural boundaries.